ii 



M 



.tVl/Z/vf 



M[N AND THINGS OF MR. 

SKETCHES FROM THE HlSTORy OF 
AN OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN. 




EXETER^: /- ^ 

ONK Ul'NDHKD COI'IKS, 

I'lUNTion Ai iiiK M:ws-i,i;rn;it i'kkss. 



A^ t^ 



NOTE. 



This fragment is made up ol" a series 
of hastily written articles which appear- 
ed in the t-olumns of the Exeter News- 
Letter, in 1871. A few copies were 
printed in this form for presentation to 
the writer's friends. 

The sketches make no pretensions to 
any merit except truthfulness and accu- 
racy, and are merely materials towards 
the complete history of Exeter, which it 
is hoped may make its appearance be- 
fore the present generation passes off 
the stage. 



MEN AND THINtiS OF EXETER. 



INTKOUUCTOKV AMJ OUTLINKAH. 

The earliest peniianent settlement of / ~> 

New Hampshire', by Europeans, was 
made at Little Harbor, now within the 
limits of Rye, and at Dover Point, in 
lt)23. How soon afterwards the more ad- 
venturous of tlie "fishermen and traders" 
who constituted the early population 
there, explored the river as far upward 
as the falls of Squaniscrott. we have no 
record. There is a distinct tradition, 
liowever, that there were residents in 
Exeter before the arrival of Wheelwright 
and his followers from Massachusetts in 
1638. Whether they were occupying un- 
der the deed of the Indian sagamores of 
16119 to Wheelwright, or whether the alleg- 
ed deed of that date is spurious, are 
questions which need not be discussed 
here. 

Rev. John Wheelwright, a friend and 
fellow collegian of Oliver Cromwell, who 
had been vicarof Bilsby in Lincolnshire, 



England, brought bis lauiily to this 
country in 1636, landing in Boston. The 
next year he was banished from the col- 
ony of Massac-husetts, on account of al- 
leged "antinoinian and faniilistic" reli- 
gious opinions ; and in the spiinj; of 1638 
established himself, with several persons 
who were driven from Massachusetts for 
the same cause, with a number of liis 
former friends and parishioners f)om 
England, and with others of whom wh 
have no definite previous knowledge, at 
the falls of Squamscott ; to which he 
gave the name of Exeter. 

Mr. VVheelwrighl at once gatJicred a 
church here, and became its miulsler. 
He also drew up a form of civil govern- 
ment, which was essential for the peace 
and good oi'der of the infant settlement, 
as the laws of Massachusetts were not in 
force here, and New Hampshire had as 
yet no laws. The instrument drawn by 
Wheelwright was styled a"combination," 
and was signed Ijy the heads of families, 
and inhabitants. It was modified after 
a time, and re-adopted in its primarj- 
form in 1640, as appears by the original 
histrument of that date, in the handwrit- 
ing of Wheelwright, and signed by him 
and thirty-four others, now preserved in 
the Town Clerk's oflice. 

Wheelwright's church, winch was of 
course a primitive structure and of small 
dimensions, was situated on the hill 
North of the house of Richard Bliss, Esq. 
and near the brick and tile manufactory 
ofWiggin and Dolloff. It was the fash- 
ion of that day to make a burial ground 
of the yard which surrounded the 
church ; and for many \'ears it has been 
common to tind the bones of the early 



settlers of Exeter in the clay excavateil 
for the mauufactorj'. Wheelwright's 
house is located by tradition, a little 
southwest of the church ; in the tield in 
rear of the liouse occupied by the Miss 
Kowlands. The first minister of Exeter 
remained here but about four years, 
when, upon the extension of the juris- 
diction of Massat-liusetts over the settle- 
ments of New Hampshire, he removed 
with aome of liis warmest supporters, to 
Wells in Maine. 

The people of New Hampshire remain- 
ed under the government of Massachu- 
setts until m^O. During that period, Ex- 
eter was a place of little political impor- 
tance, not being orxte represented in the 
"great and general court," as were Do- 
ver, Portsmouth and Hampton nearly 
every year. Yet the material interests of 
the people were steadily on the increase 
here, and there were valuable accessions 
to the population. When John Cuttwas 
appointed the tirst governor of the prov- 
ince, Exeter furnished liiin one of his 
ablest councillors, in the person of John 
Ci'ilman. 

Then came the eventful period of tli'e 
Indian hostilities, in which Exeter, be- 
ing on the frontier, was for a series of 
years greatly exposed to the incursions 
of the savages. Many of her citizens lost 
their lives, and others were carried into 
captivity, during this trying period of 
her iiistory. 

Exeter partook largely of the popular 
indignation that was aroused in the prov- 
ince by the tyrannical conduct of Gov. 
Cran tield ; and, at a later date, was the 
scene of a rather serious outbreak against 
the crown officials, for attempting with a 



high hand to enforce the laws against 
persons cliarged with trespassing upon 
tlie forest pines marked for masts for his 
majesty's navy. 

The earlier lialf of the elghteentli cen- 
tury was a severe test of the pluck and 
endurance of the inhabitants of New 
Hampshire. We learn that the winters 
were often of unusual lengtli and severi- 
ty. The laljors of the husbandmen met 
with but scanty returns, and the domes- 
tic animals were terribly reduced in 
numbers by the extreme cold and the 
want of food. Exeter must have suffer- 
ed greatly, in these years ; though, as 
the business of her people wasnotexclu- 
sively agricultural, she probably escaped 
' with less injury than some of the neigh- 
boring towns. 

After the extension of the settlements 
of New Hampshire, which followed the 
close of the French war, there was a time 
of greater i)rosperity. Exeter, during 
the administration of the last royal gov- 
ernor, was a thriving and important 
town. Gov. Went worth, who was fond 
of parade, encouraged the formation of a 
batallion of cadets here, officered by the 
leading citizens, and armed and uni- 
formed in the liandsomest style, accord- 
ing to the governor's taste. Some of his 
Excellency's vvarmest and most trusted 
friends were residents here. 

But when the first mutterings of the 
storm that led to revolution and inde- 
pendence were heard, the men of Exeter 
ranged tin mselves at once on the side of 
the colonists. And throughout the times 
that tried men's souls, our town was the 
headquarters of the State, in botli civil 
and military matters. 



II. 

PRE-llEVOLUTIONARY. 

The tbeliug inspired in the breasts of 
the people of Exeter, by the oppressive 
acts of the Britisli parliament which led 
to the American Revolution, found utter- 
ance in a series of patriotic resolutions, 
adopted "almost uiianimoush^"' at a 
town meeting, in January, 1774. After 
specifying, in indignant terms, the griev- 
ances of the colonists, the town concen- 
trated their views into the resolve, — 
■"That we are ready, oo all necessai-y oc- 
<;asious, to risk our lives and fortunes in 
defence of our rights and liberties." 
These were Jbold words, but they were 
supported by acts of equal boldness, as 
we shall see. 

The two most obnoxious of the British 
■ministers, Lords North ajid Bute, were 
burnt in effigy, in front of the old jail, 
which stood where the liouse of N. K. 
Leavitt, Esq. now is. We can imagine 
the exultation of the liberty-boys at a 
demonstration so expressive and deci- 
sive. In .September, 1774, when the in- 
habitants of Boston were reduced to sore 
straits by the opei-ation of the Boston 
post bill, our town imposed a tax, asses- 
sed in regulai- form, upon the citizens, 
and to be enforced by distraint, to raise 
money to relieve them. 

But in December of the same year, the 
jnen of Exeter wei'e called upon to put 
to the proof their principles of resistance 
to tyranny, and were found equal to the 
occasion. A plan was devised, among 
the bolder, leading patriots of the prov- 
ince, to seize the arms and ammunition 
at Fort William and Mary, at the en- 
trance of the harbor of Portsmouth, 



which was then slenderly garrisoned, 
but which was soon to be fully manned. 
It was arranged that the part j' which was 
to proceed down the river, under the 
leadership of John yullivan, John Lang- 
don and others, to make the seizure, 
should be supported by a stronger jjody 
of men from Exeter, who were to make 
their appearance in Portsmouth in sea- 
son to secure the withdrawal of the war- 
like stores, in spite of all opposition. 

Accordingly, a detachment of about 
twenty-tive armed horsemen, under Na- 
thaniel Folsom, Nicholas Oilman and Dr. 
Giddings, left Exeter in the night fixed 
for the undertaking, and rode into Ports- 
mouth about daybreak in the morning. 
They ordered cotfee at the iini of James 
Stoodley, who looked with no small as- 
tonishment on their martial array. But 
they made no allusion to the business 
which brought them there. 

About eight o'clock in the morning, 
James Hackett, with fifty or sixty of the 
bold Exeter boys, on foot, marched into 
town, and took their station at the hay- 
market, in Portsmouth, where they wait- 
ed for orders. This, of course, created 
great astonishment; but little informa- 
tion could be elicited by any inquiries. 
At nine o'clock, Laugdon made liis ap- 
pearance at Stoodley's, and acquainted 
the part}' there that the raid was com- 
pletely successful, and that tSuUivan was 
then passing up the river in the boats 
loaded with the munitions which had 
but lately been tlie dependence of one of 
his Majesty's forts, but were ere long to 
be used against liis authority by the op- 
pressed and iiulignant colonists. Thus, 
' in this first overt armed resistance of 



his early death was deeply lamented. 
James Ilackett was also a ship-builder, 
and as such labored for his country faith- 
fully and well. He was appointed a 
lieutenant-colonel of one of the regiments, 
but his services could not be spared from 
the coast defences. He did, however, 
serve in Rhode Island, on one occasion, 
as an officer in John Langdon's company 
of light horse. Such were a few of the 
leading spirits of our town, as the alarm 
of war was about to be sounded. 



III. 

REVOLUTIOXARY. 

The famous expedition of the British 
troops from Boston to Lexington and 
Concord, took place on the nineteenth of 
April, 1775. Early in the evening of that 
day, a flying report of the affair reached 
Exeter, which was soon after confirmed 
by news received from Haverhill, that 
the enemj'^ was at Lexington, that the 
country was in arms, and a severe action 
had commenced, which was raging when 
the messenger left to alarm the inland 
towns. 

Our streets were filled with excited 
men until a late hour at night. About 
da3'break an express arrived in town, 
with further and more authentic intelli- 
gence. The bells were immediately rung, 
and the drums beat to arms. It happened 
that three of the leading patriots of the 
town, N. Folsom, N. Gilman and E. Poor, 
were absent, at Dover ; but there were 
enough others to determine what part 
Exeter should take in the emergencj-. 
The unanimous voice was, for every man 
who could possibly be spared, to march 



America to the British authority, the 
men of Exeter took a leading part. 

The principal citizens of the town were 
open and decided in their determination 
to oppose the parliamentary measures. 
John riiillips, the founder of our Acade- 
my, a man of learning, wealth and culti- 
vation, though little fitted by habit or 
inclination for strife, was lirni and out- 
spoken for the liberties of America. Na- 
tlianiel Folsom, who had been distin- 
guished as an olticer in the French and 
Indian wars, smd who was a member of 
the first Continental Congress, was ready 
to take up arms in hia country's cause, 
at a moment's notice, and did afterwards 
render valuable service as a provincial 
anajor-general, until he was, by reason of 
the un worthyjealousies of others,al]owed 
to be droj^ped. 

Nicholas Oilman, the trusted friend of 
the royal governor, was no less lirmh' 
devoted to the defence of popular rights, 
and, with his active and efficient sons, 
then just come upon the stage, was a most 
important and indispensable aid to the 
cause. He was afterwards the successful 
cnanager of the linances of the infant 
.State, aud tlie slay and stalfof President 
Weare; and his sous bectune, in their 
turn, favorite and important officers of 
New Hampshire. 

Enoch Poor had been for some years 
engaged insliipbuilding in the town, and, 
accustomed to the management of men, 
was ready to tender his best services in 
aid of America's ciiuse. His ap2X)intment 
in the army was peculiarly fortunate for 
the country- He became a general of 
light infantrj', was greatlj' esteemed 
l)y Liifayette and by Washington ; and 






at once to the help of our sufterin,^ breth- 
ren. John T. Oilman, then twenty-one 
years of a,2;e, was peculiarly active in for- 
warding the preparations of the Exeter 
volunteers. 

Bullets were cast and cartridges made, 
' with all speed, and everj^ one lent a help- 
ing hand. The women encouraged their 
brothers and sons to offer their services, 
and contributed their aid to fit them out 
for their huri-ied campaign. About nine 
o'clock in the morning, no less than one 
hundred and eight of the brave boys of 
Exeter were paraded at the court-house, 
(nearly opposite the lower churrh,) armed 
and equipped, and ready to march. 

"What road shall we take?" 

"By Haverhill." 

"Who shall lead us?"' 

"Capt. Hackett." 

"Are you all ready?" asked Hackett. 

"Yes," was the unanimous response. 

"March !'" was his laconic order. 

One who was of that extemporized band 
of soldiers, has left an account of their 
march. He says that the men wore sad 
countenances while taking leave of their 
W'ives and friends at home, but there was 
uo flinching. Once fairly upon the way, 
however, their spirits rose, and they soon 
resumed their cheerfulness. They had a 
drum and fife, but no flag, for the stars 
and stripes were yet in the future. But 
they were well armed, especially those 
who had the bright muskets which Gov. 
Wentworth had taken pains to provide 
for bis "cadets," little suspecting that 
they were so soon to be used in rebellion 
against his royal master. 

The Exeter company marched tlirough 
Haverhill to tlie ferry, but found that 



10 

town in great distress. A destructive fire 
had raged tliere only forty-eight hours 
before, consuming the linost part of the 
village; this, in addition to the intelli- 
gence of the coniinenceinent of hostilities, 
was particularly depressing to the inhab- 
itants. .\t nightfall, they reached IJragg's 
tavern in Andover, and i)as«ed the night 
in that town. Kesuniing their inarch at 
an early liour the next morning, they 
reached Menotomy at noon, and halted 
upon the common at Cambridge, about 
two o'clock. Here they were taken 
charge of by some officers; their alarm 
post was assigned tliem, and two or three 
rooms in one of the college buildings 
were given them tor quarters. There 
they passed the first night of their mili- 
tary service, vvitiiottt even knapsacks for 
pillows, and the college floors, as one of 
their number quaintly remarked, "as 
hard as any other floors!" 

'I'he next morning, the (;om|)any made 
choice of oflicers. James Hackett was 
elected captain, John W. (iilman and 
Nathl Oookin. liiMitenants, and John T. 
Gilinan, Gideon La^nsoii and Noah Em- 
ery, serge-.mls. The company soon after 
went through their exercises on the com- 
mon, and evidently attracted no little 
attention. 

The next ilay, a report came that the 
British were lamling at Chelsea, ('apt, 
Hackett had the honor of being the tirst 
to receive marching orders : the company 
from Londond(*rrv followed. They 
marched as far as Medford, where they 
were met by the information that tlie 
llritish hail re-embarked. At Medford, 
they found N. l'"olsom and K. Poor, who 
were g<}ing to the headquarters of the 






11 

army. Gen. Heath reviewed tlie New 
Hampshire troops, and on Sunday Dr. 
MacC'Iintock of (Greenland, and Dr. Bel- 
knap of Dover, preached to them. 

Tlie Kxetereonipany remained atCam- 
Ijridfie not far from a fortni^lit, and were 
liighly complimented hy Gen. Heath. 
Then, the emergenfy havintr passed, and 
arraiifiements beinj^in projjress for form- 
ing a permanent military establishment, 
they were permitted to return home. 

Exeter had also it.s Committee of Cor- 
respondenee, charsred with looking after 
the interests of the patriotic cause. An 
example of the work which fell to their 
share, may be found in a dingy letter, 
which is still presei-^'ed, dated at Ports- 
mouth. April 21, 1775, and signed by H. 
Wenlworth, chairman,l)y which the com- 
mittee of Exeter are informed of "the 
attack upon the people of fp.swieh," and 
of the expectation of th(! arrival of two 
ships of war in Portsmouth, and contain- 
ing a request for "four or tive barrels of 
powder." On the back of the letter is a 
receipt by the messenger, for four barrels 
of powder, which were delivered hy N. 
Oilman and Dr. Giddings; together with 
a memorandum of sixty-eight barrels 
more, in the possession of the friends of 
liberty in Exeter and the neighboring 
towns. This powder was undoubtedly a 
part of that which was seized at Fort 
William and Mary, in December, 1774. 



IV. 

THK PKKSS. 

The tirst printing ofUce in Exeter was 
opened bj'- Robert Luist Fovvle, a nephew 
and former partner of Daniel Fowle, who 



12 

introduced the "art of arts" into New 
Hampshire, at Portsmouth, in 1756. In 
the differences of opinion whicli arose re- 
specting the riglits of the Colonies, imme- 
diately pi'ior to the Revolution, the uncle 
and nephew, it is said, were found upon 
opposite sides, and tlie result was a disso- 
lution of business connections, in 177-1. 
Robert, who favored the ministerial par- 
ty, procured the piinting materials which 
hail belonged to Fu)ber of Portsmouth, 
and removed with them to Exeter, where 
he established hiniself in business tli& 
same year. Thus Exeter was the second 
town in New Hampshire to establish that 
powerful instrument of civilization, the 
printing press; and now for near a( entu- 
ry has maintained it. 

liobert Fowie carried on tlie busines<i 
of a printer here until about 1778, when 
his tory proclivities became so obnoxious 
that he was obliged to decamp. It is said 
that he was employed to print some of 
the paper money then issued by New 
Hampshire, and soon afterwards there 
was found to be iu circulation a gieat 
quantity of bills of the same typography. 
. but with forged signatures. Suspicion 
at once fastened upon Fowle, that he had 
supplied his loyalist Iriends with the 
printed sheets ; and instead of awaiting 
an investigation, he hastened to place 
himself witliin the British linos at New 
York. 

His brother Zeiihai-iali Fowle succeeded 
him iu tlie printing business in Exeter, 
and continued it until his death, wliich 
took place toward the close of the war. 
He was a tolerable worivman, and his of- 
lice must have been quite well furnislied 
for the times, as he was able in 1780 tt> 



13 

issue an edition of the laws of the State, 
in a volume of 180 folio pages. In the 
few specimens of his printing which are 
now extant, his name does not usually 
appear in the imprint, but only the place 
and year. 

After peace was declared, Robert Fowle, 
who was a pensioner of the British gov- 
ernment, on the ground of his loyalty, 
returned to New Hampshire, and in 1789 
married Sarah, the widow- of his deceased 
brother, and continued to live in Exeter 
for about six \'ears. He then removed to 
Brentwo(xl, as it is supposed, and died 
there in 1S02. 

Henry Ranlct was the next on the list 
of printers in Exeter. He was in busi- 
ness in 1787, and probably earlier. He 
was an excellent workman for that day, 
and issued a large number of books and 
pamphlets. He printed many works for 
publishers residing in Boston and Wor- 
cester, Mass., and Portsmoutii. Headd- 
•ed to his otiice the t3-pes for printing mu- 
sic, and published at least ten or twelve 
volumes of collections of vocal and instru- 
mental music. Mr. Ranlet continued in 
business until his death in 1807. 

A considerable part of this time, there 
was another printing office in the town. 
John L amson, who was a partner of Mr. 
Ranlet in 1787, was associated with Thom- 
as Odiorne in tlie iirinting business in 
1793, and conducted it alone in the fol- 
lowing year. 

Mr. Odiorne issued several works, in 
very neat style, about the same date. 

In 17<J4, William Stearns and Samuel 
Winslow brought out a few publications 
here. Mr. Stearns, in 1795 or 1796. was 
engaged in prititing. and also in binding, 



14. 

the first edition of the New Testameiit 
ever issued in this State. The honor of 
first printing the Scriptures in New 
Hampshire has heretofore been claimed 
by New Ipswich in 1815, and by Dover in 
1803, but Exeter was years in advance of 
them, as the above date indicates. 

Charles Norris was a partner of Mr. 
Ranlet in 180G-7, and continvied in the 
occupation of a printer until 18.'>2. Fronv 
1810 to 1817 he was C()nne(;ted with others, 
his first partner being John Sawyei". 
Among the apprentices to whom Mr. 
Norris taught the typographic art, was 
William Itobinson, Avho afterwards be- 
came the founder (jf our magnilicent Fe- 
male Seminary. 

Mr. Norris was a good printer, and did 
a great deal of book work for himself and 
others. In connection with Ephraim C. 
Beals, he printed for E. Little & Co. of 
, New bui-y port, a translation of Tasso's 
Jerusalem Delivered, in ISIO, whicdi was 
really beautiful in its typographj'', and 
has never been excelled by any work 
from the Exeter press, before or since. 

The imprint of Samuel T. Moses is 
found ui)on anumber of publications be-, 
tween tiie j'ears 1820 and 1824; and from 
1824 to 18;i0 the name of Abel lirown ap- 
l)oars on several small works, as puijlish- 
er; though tlio latter was not a practical 
printer. 

In 1818, .John J. Williams lirst began 
l)rinting on his own account. lie after- 
wards took his brother Benjamin .1, Wil- 
liams, wiio was a book-binder, intopart- 
nersliip, and they carried on for many 
years, under the thin of J. tt B. Williams, 
a largo and profitable ])rinting, storeo- 
tj'ping and publishing business. Their 



15 

operations terminated about the year 1840; 
and during tliat period tliey issued a vast 
number of works of every description. 
Tlio series of popular novels from tlieir 
press, in 24nio, including works of 8cott, 
Marryatt and Bulwer, neatly bound In 
morocco, are still often met with and 
f'asily recognized. 

John C. Gerrish's name first appeared 
upon a title-page, about 1824. He was 
tlien, and continued for thi-ee or four 
years, in partnership witii Lal:)an A. Ty- 
ler, wlio was not, however, a practi(!al 
printei'. Capt. Gerrish had an office in 
Exeter, and was engaged in printing of 
various kinds, until about 1840, when he 
retired from the business. He died within 
the past year, highly respected by all who 
knew him. 

Lewis F. Shepard, who had served his 
time in the oflice of Messrs. Williams, 
had an office here for a year or two, about 
1832-8, when, by reason of impaired 
liealth, he quitted the occupation and re- 
moved into Maine. He was an excellent 
workman, and in every relation of life 
was highly'- esteemed. 

Fi-^jUeis Grant had a printing office here 
as early as 1840. He was a bookseller and 
binder, and was the publisher of a little 
"vvork, formerly much used in our com- 
mon schools, entitled, "A Book for New 
Ilampshiro Children, in Familiar Let- 
ters from a Father." This little volume 
was prepared by Mr. Hosea Hildreth, 
and was very popular, running through 
tive editions, the tirst of which was 
printed by S. T. Moses in 1823, tJie third 
by Mr. Norrisin 1829, the fourth by Capt. 
Gerrish in 1833, and the last by Natharnel 
S. Adamsin 1829. Mr. Adams is remem- 



16 

bered as a man of convivial habits and of 
much humor. 

James Derby was the publisher of one 
or two works, about 1831. He was an 
ingenious meclvanic, and did something^ 
in the manufacture of stereotype plates,, 
though he was not himself a printer. He 
was engaged in llie publication of "Scott's 
Family Bible"' here, which was to have 
tilled some six or more large volumes r 
but after the completion of the New Tes- 
tament in two volumes, the remainder of 
the undertaking was aijandoneil. 

There were several other printers, wlio 
were apprentices of Mr. Norris or Messrs. 
Willianis, who issuetl one or nK)re small 
works eath, bearing the Exeter imprint, 
but of whose history n<Hhing further is 
known. 

Samuel Bartlett Clarke, who had been 
engaged in the News-Letter oHice, as 
one of the proprietors, from 1840, died in 
July, 1857, having sustained a high char- 
acter as a man of excellent business ca- 
pacity and integrity. 

Oliver Smith, who dind recently, was 
also one of the proprietors of the paper 
for nearly the same pei'iod, and was after- 
wards employed for several 3' cars in the 
News-Letter ollice asa journeyman. He 
was a person ol decided <'haractcr and of 
sturdy honesty. 

In the foregoing list are emljraced the 
names of most, if not all, of the principal 
persons who have been connected with 
the press in Exeter, except tho.se who are 
now living. Of these latter it is proper 
to make but brief mention. 

Samuel Hall, who has been connected 
with the News-Letter as proprietor or 
printer for more than thirty years, is still 



17 

to be found in the office, composing stick 
in hand, as active and attentive to busi- 
ness as ever. 

Thomas D. Treadwell, who was for 
many years employed by Messrs. Wil- 
liams, and afterwards in the News-Let- 
ter office, has for some time past been 
engaged in farming, just outside the vil- 
lage of Exeter, which he finds preferable 
to the confined life of a printer. 

Joseph L. Beckett, a native of Exeter, 
and long a member of the typographical 
corps here, has met with deserved pro- 
motion, and has for some years past held 
a responsible position in the office of the 
Boston Post, which seems to have been 
largely indebted for its success to New 
Hampshire talent. 

Thomas J. Whittem, who was the pro- 
prietor of a printing office here for nearly 
ten years, has since i-eturned to Ports- 
mouth, where he had previously resided, 
and where for a time he was engaged in 
the publication of the Portsmouth Jour- 
nal. 



V. 

NKWSPAPERIAL. 

The first newspaper published in Exe- 
ter, and the third in New Hampshire, 
appeared in the latter part of the year 
1775. It was conducted by Robert L, 
Fowle, and issued at irregular intervals 
until some time in the year 1777. It was 
printed with large type and on small pa- 
per,— often on only a half sheet. The 
number of titles which it bore, in its 
brief existence, was remarkable, as the 
following list of a part of them will show, 
viz, A New Hampshire Gazette ; The 



18 

N. H. Gazette; The N. If. Gazette, or 
Exeter Morning Chronicle ; Tlie N. H. 
[State] Gazette, or Exeter Circulating 
Morning Chronicle ; Tlie Journal, or the 
N. H. Gazette and Tuesday's Liberty- 
Advertiser. The days of publication 
were changed nearly as often as the title. 
The proprietor's name did not appear; 
and a single person was undoubtedly 
printer, publisher and editor, as the con- 
tents of the paper were made up chiefly 
of advertisements and extracts from other 
journals, with only occa.sional original 
communications. 

The second paper was entitled The Ex- 
eter Chronicle, and was still shorter-lived 
than the fust, having been commenced 
in June, 1784, and discontinued in De- 
cember of the same year. John Meh-lier 
and George J. Osborne were the publish- 
ers. 

Newspapers were published in Exeter 
during the twelve succeeding j-ears, un- 
der various titles, and different proprie- 
tors, but probably constituting a single 
series, and numbered continuously as 
such. From the impossiliility of con- 
sulting tiles of these, at the piesent day, 
it is not easy to fix the succession of the 
papers, with accuracy ; but it is believed 
that the following statement is substan- 
tially correct. 

About July, 1785, Henry Haiilct com- 
menced the i>ublication of a jjaper called 
The American Herald of Liberty, whitth 
in 17!)1 was entitled The New IIam])sliirR 
Gazette; in 1792-.J, The New Hampshire 
Gazetteer; in 17!>o, The Weekly Visitor 
or Exeter CJazette, and publislietl by John 
Lamson, antl afterwards by Lamson & 
UdTornG ; and in 17W, The Herald of Lib- 



19 

erty or Exeter Gazette, and published by 
Samuel Winslow and Stearns & Wins- 
low, until it ceased in 1797. 

The Freeman's Oracle, or New Hamp- 
shire Advertiser, appears to have been 
commenced about August 1, 1786, was 
under the charge of John Lamson in 
1789, and probably did n'ot survive that 
"yeaT. 

Tlie Political Banquet and Farmer's 
Feast, was established by Henry Ranlet 
in 1797, and continued about one year, 
when it probably merged in The Exeter 
Federal jSIiscellany, which was but of 
short duration, it is presumed. 

It is not known that any other journal 
was set up in Exeter, until May 21, 1810, 
when the Constitutionalist was begun, 
by Hphraini C. Beals. It was given up 
June 4, 1811, but recommenced June 23, 
1812, and finally discontinued June 14, 
1814. Th-.' Constitutionalist was conduct- 
ed with more ability than any paper 
which preceded it, but probably had no 
recognized editorial head. It extended 
over nearh' the whole period of the war 
of 1812, when the popular feelings were 
sharply divided, and personalities were 
much indulged in. 

In the department of local news, how- 
ever, this journal was little in advance 
of the earlier ones. One or two para- 
graphs per week afforded all the infor- 
mation it contained respecting New 
Hampshire atfairs ; and unless a fire or 
some other unusual event occurred in 
Exeter, no allusion was made to home 
matters except in the column of deaths 
and marriages. 

During the latter part of its existence, 
The Constitutionalist was published by 



20 

Joseph G. Folsom ; but in the change 
of proprietors there was no noticeable 
change of character. 

The Watchman was the next journal 
establisheil in Exeter. It was begun Oc- 
tober 2, 181G, by Henry A. Ranlet ; in De- 
cember of the same year its title was 
changed to The Exeter Watchman, and 
Nathaniel Boardman became the pub- 
lisher; November 9, 1819, it passed into 
the hands of George Lamson, and the 
name was altered to Exeter Watchman 
and Agricultural Repository; and Feb- 
ruary 6, 1821, Samuel T. Moses became 
the publisher, and gave it the final desig- 
nation of Northern Republican. August 
6, 1821, the last number of the paper was 
issued. 

George Lamson, who might properly 
have been mentioned in the notices of 
■Exeter printers, was a man of much in- 
telligence and enterprise, and is well re- 
membered for many exi-ellent traits of 
character. He printed quite a number 
of law books, and took pains to furnisli 
employment to deserving, needy persons. 

September 21, 1824, Francis (4rant com- 
menced the publication of the Rocking- 
ham Gazette, which was under the edi- 
torial charge of Oliver W. 15. Peabody. 
It was continued until October, 1827, 
when its subscriptions were transfer reil 
to The Portsmouth Journal. This was 
the earliest paper here which professed 
to have an editor. Mr. Peabody was a 
gentleman of learning and taste, and the 
selections and original articles — though 
the latter were not very numerous — 
which appeared in the Gazette, were of a 
higher literary order than any of the 
former papers allordcd. In themattei- of 



21 

news, of course, journalism of that time 
was but the mere germ of what it now is. 

Joseph Y. James was the proprietor of 
a small paper called The Hive, begun in 
September, 1829, and carried on till 
sometime in the year 1830. 

On the " 2d mo. 12th, 1830," Michael H. 
Barton issued the first number of a pub- 
lication of eight duodecimo pages, enti- 
tled Something New, to be devoted, as 
the prefatory address announced, to the 
introduction of a perfect alphabet and 
reformed orthography of the langauge ; 
probably something like the phono- 
graphic system, of a later date. Man- 
kind were undoubtedlj^ content to live 
in ignorance of Mr. Barton's improved 
method, as we do not learn that the pub- 
lication reached a second number. 

May 10, 1831, John S. Sleeper estab- 
lished the Exeter News-Letter, for 
which, during his editorship of two 
years, he gained a wide circulation and 
a high character, though as he had not a 
practical acquaintance with printing, he 
did not find it a pecuniary success. He 
disposed of the paper to John C. Gerrish, 
who was fortunate in obtaining the edi- 
torial assistance of John Kelly, a gentle- 
man of literary taste, with a fund of 
quiet humor, and much antiquarian 
knowledge. He occupied the editorial 
chair nearly twenty years, the paper |||^ 
having in the meantime been transferred 
to Messrs. Smith, Hall A Clarke as pro- 
prietors. Subsequently, Levi W. Leon- 
ard was the editor, for several years ; and 
the paper has undergone other changes 
in the editorial and publishing depart- 
ments, since. It has been repeatedly en- 
larged, since its first appearance, and now 



22 

contains nearly double the amount of 
matter it then did. 

The Christian Journal was commenced 
April 2, 1835, and was issued every other 
week, by the Executive Committee of the 
Eastern Christian Publishing Associa- 
tion, Elijah Shaw being the editor, and 
J. C. Gerrish the printer. The first year 
the "Editorial council" consisted of 
Moses How, Mark Fernald and Samuel 
E. Brown ; the next year, of M. Fernald, 
M. How, Noah Piper and William II. 
Ciage; the third j^ear of Messrs. Fernald, 
Pipor, Gage and Josiah Prescott; the 
fourth year of Messrs. Fernald, Piper, 
How and Prescott. At the commence- 
ment of the Qftlj year the name was al- 
tered to Christian Herald and Journal. 
P. R. Russell was announced as assistant 
editor, and the editorial council were M. 
Fernald, Julius C. Blodgett, M. How and 
B. F. Carter; and on beginning the sixth 
year the title was abbreviated to Chris- 
tian Herald, Elijah Shaw, David Millard 
and Philemon R. Russell were an- 
nounced as editors^ and A. R. Brown as 
l)rintcr, and the paper was issued weekly. 
The Herald was subsequently removed 
to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where 
it still survives. 

In January, 1840, appeared the first 
number of the (jranite State Democrat, 
of wliich James Siirigle3'' was publislier, 
and J. L. Beckett printer, who soon, 
however, became pul)lisher. The paper 
in 1842 was conducted b}^ Ferdinand El- 
lis, Jr., and afterwards by William 
Young, and was dated "lOxeter and Xew- 
iiiarket," but was printed at Exeter. In 
January, 184:5, Samuel C. Baldwin be- 
came the editor and publisher, but in 



23 

consequence of ill health, relinquished 
the undertaking, and no number was is- 
sued after March 9, 1843. An attempt 
was subsequently made to revive the pa- 
per, but without success. 

The year 1841 must have been peculiar- 
ly promising to newspaper schemes. A 
prospectus was issued in February for 
the publication of a semi-monthly paper, 
to be called The Rose and Thorn ; but it 
is supposed that nothing farther came of 
it. In June, The Granite Pillar and New 
Hampshire Temperance Advocate was 
brought out, to be continued monthly, 
by Abraham R. Brown, under the editor- 
ship of Joseph Fullonton ; but it was not 
long-lived. 

The next literary venture of 1841 was 
The Factory Girl and Xiadies' Garland, 
•commenced November 1, and issued 
semi-monthly, by J. L. Beckett. This 
paper, or a continuation of it, under the 
designation of The Factory Girl, was af- 
terwards carried on by C. C. Dearborn, 
and in the latter part of 1843 was conduct- 
ed by A. R. Brown under the name of The 
Factory Girls' Garland. Apparently the 
same paper much eidarged, with the title of 
Weekly Messenger, Literary Wreath and 
Factory Girls' Garland was published in 
1845 and some time in 1846 by Mr. Brown ; 
but it was afterwards removed to Law- 
rence, Massachusetts, by J. L. Beckett. 
The Squamscot Fountain was begun 
in March, 1843 ; a weekly, devoted to the 
cause of temperance, and undertaken by 
Samuel Webster and J. P. Clough. It 
was afterwards called the Squamscot 
Fountain and Weekly Advertiser, and 
Mr. Webster became the sole proprietor ; 
but it did not last long. 



24 

A paper, called The Factory Girls' Al- 
bum, and Operatives' Advocate, was be- 
gun Februarj' 14, 1846, of which Charles 
C. Dearborn was the publisher and pro- 
prietor, and William P. Moulton the 
printer. The paper was issued a part of 
the time weekly, and afterwards semi- 
monthly, and was enlarged after a few 
numbers. It was continued somewhat 
over a year. 

The initial number of a projected week- 
ly, of a religious and literary character, 
to be styled The Olive Leaf, and to be 
edited by R. O. Williams, was issued 
January 1, 1853, by Currier & Co., pro- 
prietors ; but we do not learn that suffi- 
cient encouragement was offered to in- 
duce them to go on with it. 

About 1857 The American Ballot and 
Rockingham County Intelligencer, a 
weekly journal which had been estab- 
lished in Portsmouth in the interest of the 
American party, some three years before, 
was removed to Exeter. Thomas J. 
Whittem was editor and proprietor ; and 
the paper, though bearing date Exeter 
and Portsmouth, continued to be printed 
at Exeter until Septeml^er 7, 1865, when 
it was discontinued. 



VI. 

ANTINOMIAN. 

Though the word antinomian, which 
was applied as a term of reproach to 
Wheelwright and others of the early set- 
tlers of Exeter, by derivation signifies 
against law, yet we do not learn that in 
their generation, or afterwards, the town 
was remarkable for lawlessness or dis- 
order. It was not until near half a cen- 



25. 

tury had passed, that the slightest out- 
break took place, and then it was in re- 
sistance to tyranny. 

In 1682 Edward Cranfield came to New 
Hampshire as Governor. He soon ex- 
hibited himself in his true colors as a 
grasping, unprincipled despot. The peo- 
ple of the Province feared and hated 
him, and when his arbitrary conduct 
became intolerable, some of them were 
so enraged that they actually entered 
into a combination for the avowed pur- 
pose of overturning the government. 

On the twenty-first of January, 1683, 
the little village of Exeter witnessed a 
striking spectacle. A dozen horsemen, 
armed with swords, pistols and guns, 
with a trumpeter, and headed by Ed- 
ward Gove, a member of the provincial 
Assembly from Hampton, with a di-awn 
sword, rode through the snowy street of 
Exeter, towards Hampton. A son of 
Gove, and the brothers Wadleigh, Jo- 
seph, John and Robert, Thomas Rawlins, 
Mark Baker and John Sleeper were un- 
doubtedly of the party, and probably 
Nathaniel Ladd, Edward Smith, William 
Healy and John Young, also. All of 
them were well known in Exeter, and 
the greater part of them were residents ; 
and they made no se(!ret of their purpose 
to rise in arms against the tyrannical 
government of Cranfield. 

But it was 3'et too early for a success- 
ful resistance to the arbitrary measures 
of a royal government ; and when next 
the goo^ people of Exeter saw their in- 
surgent townsmen, it was after they had 
been tried and convicted as accomplices 
in the crime of high treason, and had 
been, by direction ot the crown, respited 



26 

and pardoned. Though this lesson failed 
to teach Crantield moderation, it showed 
the people of Exeter that they must 
adopt a less hazardous mode of resist- 
ance to the unwarranted acts of the au- 
thorities. In the course of the year, the 
Governor, being disappointed in his de- 
signs of making great gains from his 
office, resorted to the illegal expedient of 
taxing the people without the consent of 
the Assembly. To John Folsom, con- 
stable, was committed the tax against 
the inhabitants of Exeter for collection ; 
but he reported to the Governor that the 
people refused to pay, on account of the 
illegality of the assessment. 

Thereupon the warrant was delivered 
to the provost marshal of the province, 
who was ordered to collect the taxes or 
imprison the delinquents. But he found 
the duty no sinecure. He first went to 
the house of Edward Gilman, where he 
was met by the wife of Councillor John 
Gilman, who informed him that "she 
had provided a kettle of scalding water 
for him, if he came to her house to de- 
mand any rates." He received, at the 
same time, a like hospitable assurance 
from the wileof Moses Gilman, and other 
women took pains to let him know that 
they were preparing red hot spits, so as 
to give him a warm reception. Some 
half a score of the sturdy yeomanry of 
Hampton, on horseback and armed with 
clubs, then made their appearance on 
the scene, in order to ensure that the 
marshal and his deputy should Receive 
all due attention. And to cap tlie cli- 
max, the Kev. John Cotton, at that time 
probably officiating as the clergyman of 
Exeter, joined the company, " with a 



27 

club in his hand ;" the emergency seem- 
ing to justify a resort to carnal weapons. 

The assembled party then began good 
humoredly but systematically to hustle 
the marshal and his deputy up and down 
the house, and laughingly inquired of 
them "what they did wear at their 
sides," alluding to their swords, which 
were indeed rather ridiculous append- 
ages, on such an occasion. 

The unfortunate officers soon betook 
themselves to the widow Sewell's hos- 
telry, ostensibly for refreshment ; but 
their tormentors followed them there, 
and pushed them about, called them 
rogues, took the bridles off their horses 
and then turned them loose, and in short 
made the place in a thousand ways too 
hot to hold them. 

The marshal at length found that he 
had brought his wares to a poor market, 
and in despair abandoned the attempt to 
collect illegal taxes in Exeter; which it 
is believed was never resumed. 

A half century again elapsed, before 
Exeter witnessed another outbreak of 
popular feeling. The sovereigns of Eng- 
land depended much upon their Ameri- 
can colonies for ship timber for the royal 
navy, and very stringent laws were en- 
acted against the felling of any pine trees 
suitable for masts, which stood upon 
common lands. The Surveyor general 
of the woods kept a sharp eye u^jon all 
such timber, and marked it with the 
bi'oad arrow which denoted that it per- 
tained to the crown. It may naturally 
be supposed, however, that the lumber- 
men of the frontiers would pay but 
scanty heed to the regulations which for- 
bade them to touch the finest growth of 



28'. 

the forests. When the surveyor's baek 
was turned, it is probable that the wood- 
man's axe spared few of the monarch 
pines, whether they bore the king's mark 
or not. The surveyors could not help 
suspecting, if they did not know, that the 
laws were disregarded, and jealousy and 
bitter feeling necessarily sprung up on 
this account between the king's officers 
and the inland inhabitants of the prov- 
ince. 

In 1734 David Dunbar was Lieutenant 
Governor and Surveyor General of New 
Hampshire. He was arbitrary, having 
been a soldier, needy and jealous. He 
became convinced that the lumbermen 
of Exeter were cutting about the mill at 
Copyhold, now in Brentwood, trees 
which belonged by law to his royal mas- 
ter, and determined that he would put a 
stop to it. 

. Accordingly he paid a visit to the mill 
in person, but while he was looking 
about for evidence of the violation of the 
law, he was greatly terrified by shouts 
and shrieks from the surrounding woods, 
and the discharge of fire arms nearer thaii 
was agreeable. Dunbar therefore deter- 
mined that discretion was the better part 
of valor, and beat a retreat. IJut a few 
days after, he despatched ten men in a 
barge up the river from Portsmouth, 
with directions to seize and bring off the 
suspected timber. The men arrived at 
the village in the evening, and put up for 
the night at the public house kept by 
Capt. Samuel Gilman, the same house 
now standing on Water street next to the 
Town Hall. After a part of them were 
in bed and while the others were carous- 
ing, there, at ten o'clock at night, they 



29 

were suddenlj^ set upon by a party of 
men in disguise, who threw some of them 
out of the windows, and drove the others 
out at the doors. The party assailed 
made for the river, in all haste, but in 
the meantime the bottom of their barge 
had been bored through, the sails cut to 
pieces or carried away, and the mast 
hacked down. They undertook to make 
their escape in her, but were obliged to 
return to the shore, and hide until the 
next day, when they found means to 
return ignominiously to Portsmouth ; 
but a part of them having lost their 
clothes, were in a particularly woful 
plight. 

The party who were engaged in this 
act of defiance of the Surveyor General's 
authority, were from the outskirts of Ex- 
eter, then a very large township, but in- 
cluded men of respectability and stand- 
ing. . Thomas and Nathaniel Webster, 
Jonathan, Samuel and Philip Conner, 
Trueworthy Dudley and Ezekiel Gilman 
are said to have been among the assail- 
ants. They assembled at the public 
house kept by Zebulon Giddings, now 
known as the Rowland house, and there 
painted their faces and altered their dress 
so as to defy recognition, before setting 
off on their expedition. 

Dunbar believed that a part of them 
were Natick Indians ; so it is probable 
that they adopted a disguise calculated to 
give that idea. 

We do not learn that any further at- 
tempt was made to enforce the mast-tree 
laws ; nor that any punishment was in- 
flicted upon the parties concerned in this 
breach of the peace ; but Dunbar was so 
mortified and enraged that he caused the 



30 

Courts to be taken away from Exeter, and 
bore a bitter grudge against the inhabi- 
tants so long as he remained in the prov- 
ince. 

The next scene of lawlessness wit- 
nessed in Exeter, was at the remove of 
still another half century, in 1786. The 
peculiarity of this occasion, — which has 
made not a little figure in history, — was 
that the persons who were guilty of the 
disorderly conduct, belonged, without 
an exception, to other places, and simply 
made their appearance in Exeter to in- 
dulge in their illegal proceedings. The 
people of the town were not only uncon- 
nected with the outbreak, but were, to a 
man, ready to condemn and crush it. 

For some years after the close of the 
revolutionary war, the people were hard- 
ly reconciled to the situation. The times 
were hard, money was scarce, and the 
acquisition of independence ha^ not 
freed them, as many had fancied it would 
do, from the restraints of law. Com- 
plaints were rife among the people be- 
cause the legislature of the State would 
not authorize the issue of paper money, 
which many believed was the panacea 
for their fiscal troubles. At length the 
discontent became so intensified that it 
took an organized form among the peo- 
ple of several interior towns in Rocking- 
ham county, and on the morning of Sep- 
tember 20th, 17S6, the rumor reached Ex- 
eter, that a body of men were about to 
enter the town to obtain in one way or 
another, " a redress of grievances." 

During the forenoon, a great number 
of persons attracted by the report, came 
into town from the neighboring places, 
not for the purpose of joining in any il- 



legal demonstration, but to witness what 
was about to talte place. The legislature 
was in session in the meeting-house, 
which stood nearly on the site of the 
Iiresent lower church, while the Supreme 
Court was sitting in the Gourt house, 
whicli was on the opposite side of the 
street, occupying about the center of 
what is now the entrance to Court street. 

Between two and three o'clocli in the 
afternoon, the expected assemblage made 
its appearance, coming down Front 
street. It had been formed into tlie sem- 
blance of a military array, at Kingston, 
and consisted of about two hundred per- 
sons, or a little more, about one-half of 
them on foot and provided with fire- 
arms or swords, and the residue follow- 
ing in the rear on horseback, and carry- 
ing clubs and whips. 

They halted near the residence of the 
late Nathaniel Gilman on Front street, 
and asked civilly for water. They then 
marched down the street, and passing 
over the great bridge, turned and came 
back as far as the Court house, which 
they surrounded, under the mistaken 
belief that the legislature was in session 
there. Judge Samuel Livermore, who 
was upon the bench, sternly ordered 
that the business should proceed with- 
out pause, and forbade any one to look 
from the windows. 

The mob, in a few minutes became 
aware of their mistake, and attempted 
to surround the meeting-house. The 
spectators who were packed somewhat 
densely in and about the yard of the 
church, yielded only inch by inch, and 
it was an hour or more before the riot- 
ous assemblage reached the building. 



32 

They then phiced guards at the doors 
and windows, and announced, in sub- 
stance, that they meant to keep the-m Ji- 
bers of the general court in durance, un- 
til they passed a law for the emission of 
paper money, whicli should be a legal 
tender for debts and taxes. One member 
only is reported to have escaped from 
the building, and he got out of a window. 

John Sullivan, the president of the 
State, was present in the meeting-house, 
— a man of resolution and a soldier. He 
made his appearance before the excited 
crowd, and said to them that they " need 
not expect to frighten him, for he had 
smelt powder before." In allusion to 
the demand which some of them had 
made for justice, he said, " you ask for 
justice, and justice you shall have."' 

It was noticeable that lie did not ad- 
vise the crowd to disperse, however; he 
undoubtedly felt that it was better to 
crush the insurrection in the bud. It 
presently grew toward evening, and the 
good citizens of Exeter began to think it 
was time that a little pressure should be 
applied to the insurgents. xVgreeably to 
a suggestion of Col. Nathaniel Gilman, a 
drum was beaten, a little way oil", as if a 
body of soldiers were approaching, while 
he himself with his stentorian voice 
cried out something about " Itackett's 
artillery." The mob waited for nothing 
further, but incontinently took to their 
heels, and did not pause till they had 
reached the outskirt of the village. They 
passed the night near where the passen- 
ger depot of the railroad formerly stood. 

No sooner was the village relieved from 
their presence, than elfectual stops were 
taken to suppress the rising. The legis- 



33 

lature having given the proper authori- 
ty,. the president at once sent orders into 
th.. neighboring towns to assemble the 
militia. A volunteer company of the 
principal citizens of Exeter was imme- 
diately enrolled under the command of 
Nicholas Oilman, who had served in the 
revolntionary army, and was afterwards 
a Senator of the United States. By the 
next morning the village of Exeter was 
a scene of no small excitement and mili- 
tary display. A large body of troops, 
horse and foot, were assembled, and 
under the direction of the president and 
the immediate command of Gen. Joseph 
Cilley, they marched with military mu- 
sic to meet the force of the insurgents, 
the armed portion of whom were drawn 
up on the ridge beyond little river, on 
the Kingston road. 

The government column, with the Ex- 
eter volunteer company holding the 
post of honor in the front, moved to 
within the distance of some forty rods 
from the opposing party, when Gen. Gil- 
ley at the head of a small number of 
horsemen, dashed forward and across 
the stream, and by a coup de main seized 
and made prisoners of the leaders of the 
insurgents. The remainder broke and 
fled, but were pursued, and quite a num - 
ber of them cajatured. 

Joseph French of Hampstead, James 
Cochran of Pembroke, and John Mc- 
Kean of Londonderry, were the princi- 
pal persons engaged in the riotous de- 
monstration. Some of the prisoners 
were indicted, others were brought to a 
court martial, and still others were dealt 
with by ecclesiastical authority, but 
while all were pretty thoroughly fright- 



34 

cned, and very penitent, none of them 
were severely punished. 

The spirit of organized resistance to 
law and order, received on this occasion 
a timely and ellectual check, and the 
state authorities and people of Exeter are 
entitled to no little credit for iheir judi- 
cious and spirited conduct. 



VII. 

INCIDENTS. 

In the afternoon of March 20th, 1754, a 
troop of about thirtj"- men, on horseback, 
and carrying axes, made their appear- 
ance in Exeter. They came from Can- 
terbury, Contoocook and the vicinity, 
and their purpose was probably pretty 
well understood in Exeter and through- 
out tlie province. 

Two trading Indians of the St. Francis 
tribe in Canada, Sabatis and Plausawa 
by name, had rendered themselves very 
obnoxious to the people of Canterbury 
and Contoocook, the preceding summer. 
Sabatis had been formerly concerned in 
spiriting away two blacks owned by in- 
habitants of Canterbury, and both In- 
dians not only proclaimed the opinion 
that there was no harm in stealing ne- 
groes, but threatened and even offered vi- 
olence to the wife of a white settler. They 
indulged in boasts of former deeds of 
bloodshed and robberj', and in threats of 
committing others, until the people were 
so alarmed and incensed that they stern- 
ly warned them to dei')art. The Indians 
would have done well to heed the admo- 
nition, but in complete infatuation they 
still lingered in the neighborhood, and 
abated not a jot of their blustering. 



35 



Peter Bowen and one Morrill, with 
whom they were staying, at length un- 
doubtedly concerted a plan to take their 
lives. Bowen, who was a rough and vio- 
lent man, procured a gallon of rum from 
Rumford, and treated the Indians to it 
freely, until they became intoxicated. 
Meantime his confederates took the op- 
portunity to draw the charges from the 
Indians' guns, and then enticed them 
into the woods, where Bowen slew them 
almost without resistance. 

Yet so great was the dread and hatred 
of the Indians which prevailed through- 
out the province, and so favorably was 
the story related for the murderers, that 
when Bowen and Morrill were indicted 
for murder and imprisoned in Ports- 
mouth jail to await their trial, the public 
sentiment was aroused most strongly in 
their behalf. Their trial was fixed for 
JNIarch 21st, 1754 ; and the cavalcade which 
appeared in Exeter on the preceding day, 
as already mentioned, was composed of 
persons who were determined to rescue 
the accused persons, from imprisonment. 

A few of the people of Exeter are said 
to have joined the lawless band, but their 
names have not survived to our time. 
The party, thus reinforced, rode through 
mud and snow, that night, to Ports- 
mouth, beat down the doors of the jail, 
knocked off the irons from Morrill and 
Bowen, and set them free. Rewards 
were offered by the Governor for the re- 
arrest of the prisoners, but they were 
never retaken, though they were at their 
homes again as usual, soon after. Their 
course was justified by the popular voice, 
and it was not thought expedient to mo- 
lest them, or their rescuers. In no very 



36 

long time the incidents would have been 
generally forgotten, but for a song which 
some village poetaster composed on the 
occasion, and which preserved the mem- 
ory of the transaction, being afterwards 
commonly sung at the huskings, in Ex- 
eter. 

Sixteen years afterwards, an occur- 
rence of a very different character 
aroused the attention of the town. News 
was brought that George Whitefield, a 
preacher of world-wide celebrity, was to 
address the people of Exeter. It may 
easily be supposed, that none would 
willingly lose the opportunity of hearing 
his eloquent voice. So although the time 
appointed was the forenoon of Saturday, 
(September liOth, 1770,) almost the entire 
population thronged to the church where 
he was to officiate, — which stood nearly 
on the si30t where Mrs. Cobbs' house 
now is. 

The building was not capable of con- 
taining the crowd, and Mr. Whitefield 
determined to address them in the open 
air, a course he was often compelled to 
adopt. It is said that he at first essayed 
to speak from the meeting-house steps, 
but the sun shining in his lace, he 
crossed to the other side of the street, 
where some boards laid across two bar- 
rels or hogsheads, furnished him a stand, 
from which he preached to his out door 
congregation a discourse nearly two hours 
in length, from 2 Corinthians xiii, 5. 

This was the last sermon which that 
eloquent and devoted minister delivered. 
He went in the afternoon to Newbury- 
port, Mass., where, the very next morn- 
ing, he breathed his last. So that Exe- 
ter witnessed the closing effort in the ca- 



43 

steps towards a reconciliation with the 
authorities of Ma'<sachusetts, which re- 
sulted in the reversal of the sentence of 
banishment against him. 

When it became evident that Mr. 
Wheelwright was not to return, the peo- 
ple of Exeter made an attempt to call the 
aged Stephen Bachiler, who had been 
dismissed from Hampton for irregular 
conduct, to become their minister. But 
as there was a division on the subject 
among the people, and as Mr. Bachiler 
was not thought to be a peace-maker, the 
general court of Massachusetts inter- 
fered, and prohibited any action in the 
premises, "until this court or the court 
of Ipswich upon further satisfaction of 
their (the people's) reconciliation or fit- 
ness, shall give allowance thereunto." 
Divers petitions from Hampton and Ex- 
eter followed ; and the court ordered two 
or three magistrates to go to Hampton 
with full power to hear and determine 
all differences there. The result was that 
the intention of settling Mr. Bachiler was 
abandoned. 

In 1646 another attempt was made to 
procure a minister in Exeter ; and some 
of the inhabitants went so far as to bind 
themselves to pay what Mr. Wheelwright 
should ask for his house and land, for 
the use of Mr. Nathaniel Norcrosse, who 
was a young minister, and an "universi- 
ty scholar," in Massachusetts. It is not 
known that Mr. Norcrosse received a 
call ; if he did, it was not accepted. There 
were still divisions and dissensions 
among the people, in regard to their spir- 
itual affairs, and at least one petition was 
forwarded on that account to the general 
court of Massachusetts, the great resort 



44 

for the remedy of all grievances ; and on 
the 27th of October, 1G47, that body pass- 
ed an order that Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, 
Mr. Nathaniel Rogers and Mr. Norton 
be requested and authorized "to exam- 
ine the grounds of the complaint, and if 
it may be, to compose things amongst 
them (the people of Exeter), — -which if 
they cannot do, then to certify to this 
court what they find, and also think best 
to bo done, which may conduce to peace 
and the continuance of the ordinances 
amongst them." 

Possibly tlie labors of these gentlemen 
maj' have had a pacificating effect upon 
the discordant elements, for on the IGth 
i>f November, 1G48, it was voted by the 
inhabitants of Exeter that Mr. Thomson 
of Braintree, be invited to become their 
minister, "and in case he can be attained 
to come, that he shall be allowed by the 
town £30 a year, and the profits that 
shall come to the town by the saw-mill, 
and the use of the house and land whicli 
was purchased of Mr. Wheelwright, so 
long as ho continues with us as a minis- 
ter ; and Christopher Lawson, Edward 
Ciilman, and John Legat are appointed 
to act in the imvilutiou to him if he may 
be attained, or if not then to have power 
to act in the invitation of some other, 
with the counsel and advice of the elders 
of Boston, Charlestownand Roxbury." 

It would appear that Mr. Thomson de- 
clined the invitation. 

At a town meeting held the 22d of 
April, 1649, it was voted to invite Mr. 
Emerson of Rowley, to come to Exeter 
as the minister ; but he did not see fit to 
accept the call. 

But the wishes of the people were at 



reer of one of the luosit distingui.slied di- 
vines of the world, whose name will be 
held in honor and reverence, so long as 
zeal, piety, and self-denial shall be known 
and apprwiated. 



VITT. 

IXCTDKNTS. 

It was nearly six years after the death 
of the earnest and eloquent Whitefield. 
In that period an immense change had 
taken place in the opinions, feelings 
and situation of the American colo 
nists. From remonstrances and peti- 
tions against the exactions of the mother 
country, thej^ had proceeded to open and 
armed resistance, and at length to the 
decisive step of declaring themselves in- 
dependent of the British crown. In 
June, 1770, the Legislatvire of New 
Hampshire instructed her delegates in 
Congress to join with those of the other 
colonies, in such a measure, and on 
Thursday, the eighteenth day of July 
following, the Declaration of the thirteen 
United Colonies of North America, au- 
thenticated by the bold signature of John 
Hancock, reached Exeter by express, 
having been fourteen days on the road 
from Philadelphia. 

The committee of safety, sometimes 
called tlie little congress, was in session 
at the time, and we can readily believe 
that the startling but joyful intelligence 
that the Rubicon was passed, flew rapid- 
ly from lip to lip through the village. It 
was determined that the immortal 
words should be read in public ; and the 
impatient citizens thronged in a dense 
mass about the front yard of the lower 



38 ^ 

church, or "colonj' house" as it was 
termed when used lor civic purposes, to 
witness the fornialitj'. The venerable 
president of the council, ^^eshech Weare, 
with the niemliers of the Committee and 
other principal citizens, of the town and 
county, made their appearance before 
the assembled people, with John Tajdor , 
(Jihnan, wlio was selected for the honor 
of first pronouncing on New Hampshire 
soil, the words of the charter of Ameri- 
can libertj'. As he read the impressive, 
solemn and eloquent periods of the De- 
claration, the great concourse before him 
listened in silence but w'ith deep emo- 
tion, and he himself was so overcome 
with the tumult of his feelings on the 
Joyful and momentous occasion, that he 
was for a time incapable of proceeding. 
The emotions of the hearers were too 
deep for applause ; but the words found 
a response in their inmost hearts, and 
tlionceforward there was no hesitation 
nor faltering. Nothing short of absolute 
independence was admissible as the re- 
sult of the contest, from that time forth. 
Thirteen years later, Exeter saw anoth- 
er sight, not soon to be forgotten bj' its 
citizens. The war was happilj' conclud- 
ed, independence won, and the insuffi- 
ciency of the old confederation becoming 
apparent, a new form of government had 
been established. Washington, the sa- 
vior of his country, had been elected its 
first chief nuigistrate, and after the new 
administration was fairly launched, had 
sot forth on a tour through the northern 
states. It was known that he was to 
leave Portsmouth on the fourth day of 
November, 1789, for Exeter ; and the 
good people made their preparations to 



39 

meet him with a cavalcade of citizens to 
escort him into town. But they mistook 
the hour of his departure from Ports- 
mouth, or forgot his rigid habits of punc- 
tuality; for before the volunteers were 
in the saddle, Washington made his ap- 
pearance. He arrived here before ten 
o'clock in the forenoon, accompanied by 
his secretaries, Col. Lear and Maj. Jack- 
son, and a single servant. Washington 
rode in an open carriage, and is said to 
have worn a drab surtout and military 
hat. The street was lined with specta- 
tors as he drove up to the door of the res- 
idence of Col. Samuel Folsom, who, as 
was not unusual among the leading men 
of that day, kept a public house. It 
was the same dwelling now occupied by 
by George W. Dearborn at the easterly 
corner of Court square and Water street. 
It is unnecesaary to say that the whole 
population gathered eagerly to catch a 
glimpse of the distinguished visitor. 
Col. Nicholas Gilman, who had been an 
officer of the staff under the commander- 
in-chief at Yorktown, and other officers 
of the revolution and principal citizens, 
paid their respects to Washington, and 
did the honors of the town. They invited 
liim to remain and partake of a public 
dinner, which his arrangements com- 
pelled him reluctantly, as his diary in- 
forms us, to decline. He however ac- 
cepted a breakfast or collation, at the 
pxiblic house, on which occasion a young 
lady related to Col. Folsom, waited on 
him at table. His quick eye discovered 
that she was not a servant, and tradition 
informs us that he called her to him, ad- 
dressed her a few pleasant words, and 
kissed her. 



40 

The hour or two of his stay in Exeter 
Avere soon over, and he again resumed his 
journey by Kingston towards Haverhill, 
Mass. Ho was accompanied a part of the 
distance by some of the gentlemen of the 
town. When he reached the top of frreat 
Hill, he called on his driver to stop, and 
rasting his eyes back over the wide and 
charming landscape, he remarked in ad- 
miring tones upon its beauty ; and with 
this pleasant word at parting, he bade 
our town adieu. 

Nine years later, a ludicrous occur- 
rence took i)lace in Exeter, in connection 
with an expected visit trom Washing- 
ton's successor in the office of president. 
In the summer of 1798, while the Court 
was in session, and the public houses 
tilled to overflowing, two young njen 
from Boston drove into town at a late 
hour, and attemjited to obtain lodgings 
for the night. There was no room at any 
public house, and the jirivate houses 
were all closed an<l dark. The young 
men east about for an expedient to rouse 
the people. It took but a moment to 
concoct a story. They informed the sit- 
ters-up at the public houses that Presi- 
dent Adams was coming on from Haver- 
hill to Exeter that night, and would 
shortly arrive. They had ridden on in 
advance to give the information. The 
news spread like wild-lire. I^ights wei'e 
soon visible in every house, and there 
was mounting in hot haste to form a cav- 
alcade for the President's reception. 
Meantime the two young men who had 
caused all this commotion found a pri- 
vate house whose occupants being 
aroused, were willing to give them lodg- 
ings, and were soon snug in bed ; while 



45 

length gratified ; for at a town meeting on 
the 30th of May, 1650, it was unanimous- 
ly agreed between Rev. Samuel Dudley 
and the town of Exeter "that Mr. Dudley 
is forthwith, as soon as comfortable sub- 
sistence can be made by the town for him 
and his family in the house which was 
purchased of Mr Wheelwright, that 
then the said Mr. Dudley is to come and 
inhabit Exeter and to be a minister of 
God's word unto us until such time as 
Ood shall be pleased to make wa^- for the 
gathering of a cinirch, and then to be or- 
dained our pastor or teacher according to 
the ordinance of God." The town agreed 
to tit up the Wheelwright house, and to 
fence in a yard and garden, and to allow 
£iO a year towards the maintenance of 
Mr. Dudley and his family, with the use 
and sole improvement of the house^and 
lands and meadow boughtof Mr. Wheel- 
wright, during the time he, Mr. Dudley, 
should continue to be their minister. 
The town also agreed that "what cost 
Mr. Dudley should bestow about the said 
house and lands in the time of his im- 
provement, the town is to allow unto 
him or his so much as the said house 
and lands are bettered by it, at the time 
of the said Mr. Dudley's leaving it, either 
b\' death or some more than onlinary 
■call of God otherways." And it was far- 
ther stipulated "that the old cow-house 
which was Mr. W^heelwright's, shall by 
the town be fitted up tit for the setting of 
cattle in, and that the aforesaid pay of 
£40 a year is to be made in good pay 
■every half year in corn and English com- 
modities at a price current, as they go 
generallj' in the country at the time or 
tinjes of payment" 



4« 

The agreement with Mr. Dudley took 
effect immediately, and he undoubtedly 
entered upon the discharge of his minis- 
terial functions at once. Indeed there is 
reason to believe that he had been serv- 
ing the town in the same capacity before 
that time. We learn, moreover, from the 
agreement, that the church that had been 
gathered and maintained during Mr. 
Wheelwright's stay in Exeter, had failed 
to preserve its organization for the seven 
years when it was without a pastor. 

At a town meeting on the2r)th of June, 
ItioO, it was voted to pay Francis Swaine 
20s "for his pains and time in going into 
the bay to collect Mr. Dudley his pay." 
This refers, no doubt, to the "English 
commodities" which the town were to 
furnish Mr. Dudley in part payment of 
his salary. There was little money in 
the frontier settlement, and some mer- 
chant in the bay (Massachusetts) was 
contracted with, to supply the imported 
goods for Mr. Dudley, and to receive in 
exchange from his Exeter parishioner."* 
lumber and such other articles as they 
could furnish. 

At the same town meeting it was re- 
solved "that a meeting-house shall b© 
built, of twenty foot square, as soon as 
workmen can conveniently be procured 
to do it ; and the place ai)i)ointed for it is 
at the corner of William Taylor's lot next 
the street, and William Taylor is to have 
of the town 2()s for five rods square of his 
land in that place." 

The people of Exeter having engaged 
the services of Mr. Dudley, took prompt 
and efficient measures to secure the pay- 
ment of his stipulated salary. The town 
records inform us that at a meeting on 



47 

the r)th of December, 1650, it was "agreed 
upon that the townsmen (who performed 
substantially the duties of selectmen) 
shall have power to make a rate upon all 
such of the inhabitants of the town as do 
not voluntarily bring in according to 
their abilities, for the satisfj'ing of the 
town's engagement unto Mr. Dudley for 
his maintenance." It had previously 
been determined that every inhabitant 
of the town should pay, "for every 
thousand of pipe-staves they made, 
two shillings, which should be for the 
maintenance of the ministry ; and for 
every thousand of hogshead staves one 
and sixpence ; and for every thousand of 
bolts tliat is sold before they be made in- 
to staves, four shillings; and also what 
is due from the saw-mills shall be for 
the maintenance of the ministry." And 
in order to establish the priority of this 
claim above all others, it was provided 
that "any man that shall deliver any 
staves or bolts before they have satisfied 
t'..e town order, shall pay ten shillings 
for every thousand staves, and twenty 
shillings for every thousand bolts." 

It was also voted at said lueeting on 
the 5th ot December, 1650, that if Francis 
Swaine and Henry Roby or either of 
them shall make a bargain with any able 
inerchant of the bay, to pay or cause to 
be paid unto Mr. Dudley the sum of £40 
in good English commodities in May 
next, for his whole year's maintenance, 
and to accept of hogshead staves or pipe 
staves for the said £40 worth of goods, 
then the town do agree to stand to their 
bargain which they shall make, and to 
bring in their proportional parts of hogs- 
head staves or pipe staves unto the said 



48 

Henry Robj' or Francis Swaine to satisfy 
their agreement." 

While the inhabitants were thxis solici- 
tous to secure their minister from want, 
they were no less ready to protect him 
from defamation. They authorized the 
three townsmen, Ilenrj'^ Roby, Thomas 
King and John Legat, "to vindicate the 
credit and reputation of Mr. Dudley 
against the reproachful speeches and cal- 
umniations of John Garland, by proceed- 
ing against him in law, according to the 
demerits of his oflence." It is not known 
that any suit was ever brought against 
the slanderer ; he probably found means 
by apology, or otherwise, to avoid such 
a result. 

Apparently nothing was done under 
the vote to build a meeting-liouse, 
passed June 20th, 1050, for a couple of 
years after. To be sure at a town meet- 
ing held September 1st, 1052, it was or- 
dered that the house should "begin to be 
built upon the next second day (Mon- 
day), and a rate to be made how much 
work every man shall do towards it, and 
so to be called forth to work upon it by 
Thomas King and John Legat as need 
shall require, that the work be not neg- 
lected till it be tinished, and that every 
man that neglects to come to work upon 
a day's warning he shall pay five shil- 
lings a day to be forthwith levied by the 
constable." Yet at a subseq\ient meet- 
ing , July 8th, 1052, "it was ordered that 
a meeting house shall forthwith be built, 
and that every man both servants as 
well as others, shall come forth to work 
upon it, as they are called out by the sur- 
veyor of the work, upon the penalty of 
five shillings for every day's neglect ; 



41 

♦he ctims of their practical joke, after 
having waited and ridden for hours in 
vain, were lain at last to betake them- 
selves to rest, with the consciousness of 
liaving been egregiously hoaxed. It is 
doubtful whether it was any satisfaction 
for them to feel that though they were 
too late to escort Washington, they could 
not be said to be behind time with re- 
gard to Adams ! 



XL 

ECCLESIASTICAL. . 

The little colony which accompanied 
or followed John Wheelwright to the 
falls of Squamscott in 1638, was essen- 
tially a religious one. It was composed 
in great part of those who had been mem- 
bers of his flock in England, and of those 
who had suffered for adhering to his the- 
ological opinions in Massachusetts. It 
is not strange, therefore, that a church 
was gathered, within a few months after 
their arrival here. From the records of 
the church at Boston we learn that on 
the 30th of December, 1638, "dismission 
was granted to our brethren, Mr. John 
Wheelwright, Richard Morris, Richard 
Bulgar, Philemon Pormont, Christopher 
Marshall, Isaac Grosse, George Wayte, 
Thomas Wardhall, and William Ward- 
hall, unto the church at the falls of Pas- 
cataquack, if they be rightly gathered 
and ordered." It is probable that thej' 
all became members of the first church 
of Exeter, and that an equal or larger 
number of Wheelwright's former Eng- 
lish parishioners were also connected 
with it. Of the thirty-four persons who 
signed the "combination" with Wheel- 



42 

Wright, in 1639, we know from the pre- 
amble of the instrument itself that a part 
were brethren of the church, and the 
others inhabitants, simply. It has been 
stated, upon what authority we know 
not, that the church was formed of eight 
members, comprising Wheelwright and 
those who as his adherents had been dis- 
missed from the church in Boston ; but 
this is apparently erroneous. As no re- 
cords are in existence to afford the infor- 
mation, the number of those who com- 
posed the original church can probably 
never be ascertained ; but there is reason 
to V)c]icve that among them were at least 
one-half of the signers of the combina- 
tion. It is evident from the terms of the 
mode of government adopted by the set- 
tlors, and from their laws and ordinances, 
that the religious element was the con- 
trolling one in their little communitj'. 

Mr. Wheelwright remained in Exeter, 
as is supposed, until 1043, when all the 
settlements in New Hampshire liaving 
passed under the authority of Miussachu- 
sctts, from which colony he had been 
banished, he removed with a few connec- 
tions and intimate friends to Wells in 
Maine. It is probable that he did tliis 
fi om an apprehension that ho might bo 
subjected to further annoyance, if ho 
continued within the jurisdiction of Mas- 
sachusetts, witiiout having made his 
peace with the authorities of that colony. 
There is some reason to believe that Mr. 
Wheelwright's removal was not expected 
to bo permanent. There are votes upon 
the town records which indicate that the 
inhabitants understood that he might re- 
turn to Exeter. And before he had been 
very long at Wells, too, he took the first 



49 

and teams are to be brought forth to the 
work by the owners as they are called 
for by the said surveyors upon the pen- 
alty of ten shillings a day for their neg- 
lect, and the surveyors or overseers ap- 
pointed for the said work are Mr. Ed- 
ward Gilman, Thomas King and Edward 
Hilton, Jr., and they are to see the work 
finished and not to have it neglected." 

Undoubtedly the people were moved 
to commence and carry through the en- 
terprise soon after ; for a vote of the town 
in November, 1652, alludes to the "fin 
ishing" of the building, and the return 
of a board of commissioners to lay out 
the west part of Hampton, in August, 
1653, mentions the "Exeter meeting- 
bouse," which would imply that it was 
then completed. 

Where Mr. Dudley's congregation 
worshipped in the meantime, whether 
in the primitive structure that is under- 
stood to have been erected in Mr. Wheel- 
wright's ministry or elsewhere, we have 
no means of knowledge. Nor is it cer- 
tainly known where this church was lo- 
cated ; but there is reason to believe that 
it was not far from the site which tradi- 
tion assigns to the earlier building. It 
continued to be used as the place of pub- 
lic worship for more than forty years. 

In 1664, a lean-to with a chimney was 
added to the meeting-house, to serve as 
a watch-house. Some time after this, 
probably, Edward Smith, Biley Dudley, 
Edward Gilman and perhaps others built 
a gallery in the house, which was con- 
firmed to them by a vote of the town in 
1(>78, and at the same time said Smith, 
Oilman, Jonathan Thing, Peter Folsoni, 
Nathaniel Lad and Moses Levit were al- 



50 

lowed to build a gallery for their wives, 
at the end of the luens gallery, leaviiif^ 
room for htill another, if desired, whic-b 
Mrs. Sarah Wadley, Sarah Young, Alice 
(jiilniaii, Abigail Wadley, Ephraim Mar- 
elen's wife, Grace fJilnian ami Mary Law- 
rence had leave to erect and set up, at 
the north (snd of the house. 

It would appear that within a few years 
after Mr. Dudley's scttlonient, the town 
had lost .ionie inhabitants, ju-rhaps pei'- 
sons of means, so tiiat they were unable 
to continue his salary, and as he "wns 
not willing tourge that from them whidj 
they could not comfortably discharge," 
it was agreed between them on the 13th 
of June, 1655, that "the contract made at 
the time of his settlement should he an- 
nulled ; that he should lay down hi» 
minister-character and that his future 
exercises on the Sabbath day should be 
done as a private person, he intending? 
and promising to be heljiful, what so 
may with convenience, either in his own 
house or some other wliicli shall be ap- 
pointed for tlie Sabbath exercises."' 

Tlie next year the town of Portsmouth, 
understanding probably that Mr. Dud- 
ley was relieved of his Exeter charge, 
l)ased a vole to iJivite him to i-emove 
thither and become their minister, and 
the selectmen of that town were author- 
ized to communicate the vote and make 
a contract with him. He received the 
proposition favorably', and agreed to visit 
Portsmouth the next spring. 

Tlie danger of losing their minister 
seems to have aroused the inhabitants of 
Exeter to new efforts ; for, at "a full 
town meeting" on the 8th of June, 1657, 
"it was ordered and agrceil that so lent? 



51 

as Mr. Samuel Dudley shall continue to be 
a minister in the town of Exeter, which 
shall be till there shall be some just 
cause for him to remove, whereof he is 
not to be judge himself, but other indif- 
ferent, understanding men,— the fewness 
of the people, or greater maintenance to 
be a cause, are excepted— the town of 
Exeter is to pay the said Samuel the sum 
of £50 yearly in merchantable pine 
boards and merchantable pipe staves, 
both to be delivered at the water-side, at 
the town of Exeter, at the current price 
as thej' shall go at when they are deliv- 
ered." The residue, in case fullcompen- 
tion was not thus made, was to be laken 
in corn, and the payments were to be in 
equal instalments on the 29th of Septem- 
ber and the 24th of June, in each year. 
The Wheelwright property was also fully 
confirmed to Mr. Dudley, and it was 
provided that the selectmen of the town 
.should yearly "gather up" the said sum 
of £50, and in case they should fail to do 
so, thej^ should be ansiverable to the 
town for their deiault, and make up out 
of their own {Jockets whatever they failed 
to collect ! It is somewhat doubtful if 
the selectmen of our day would be will- 
ing to accept such a liability ; and per- 
haps it was only the fear of being de- 
prived of their minister which reconciled 
them to the condition, two centuries ago. 

This action on the part of the town had 
the desired effect of inducing Mr. Dud- 
ley to abandon all thoughts of removing 
to Portsmouth, and to retain him topur- 
sue his useful labors in Exeter. 

Mr. Dudley being an excellent man of 
business and holding the pen of a ready 
writer, was frequently employed by his 



52 

parishioners in secular affairs. At a 
meeting of the town on the 4th of March, 
1658, a grant of certain land was made to 
him, in consideration of his drawing off 
from the town book all the former grants 
and necessary orders in relation thereto ; 
which it was stipulated were to be " fair- 
ly written." It was also provided, sin- 
gularly enough, that if he should find 
recorded any grant or order to hinder 
this grant of land to himself, the latter 
should be void, which is evidence of the 
entire confidence reposed by the people 
in his integrity. 

In 1660 something was needed to be 
done to the house of worship either by 
way of addition or repairs, as the select- 
men were authorized, in case they should 
be "forced to lay out of their own estates 
towards the fitting up of the meeting 
house," to make a rate to reimburse 
themselves. This was a great advance 
on the earlier rule, which apparently re- 
quired the selectmen to make good any 
deficiency in the minister's salary ; and 
subsequent votes of the town, as will be 
seen, still further relieved them from re- 
sponsibility in parochial affairs. 

At a town meeting, on the loth of 
March, 16GS, it was ordered that Lieuten- 
ant Hall be empowered to "arrest and 
sue any that belong to the town that re- 
fuse to pay to the rate of the ministry." 
And in 1671 it was agreed that the select- 
men should be exonerated from tlieduty 
of collecting the minister-rate, and that 
thenceforth Mr. Dudley was to " gather 
up his rate, himself," in consideration 
whereof he was to receive £60 instead of 
£50, J early. The selectmen were to as- 
sess the tax, and in case an3' inhabitant 



53 

should refuse to pay, they were to em- 
power Mr. Dudley to "get it by the cou- 
stable." 

Either this method of obtaining his 
salary w^as impracticable or unsatisfac- 
tory to Mr. Dudley, or the infirmities of 
age soon compelled him to withdraw 
from his charge ; for it was but five years 
later that the place of worship in Exeter 
appears to have been strangely neglect- 
ed, if we may give full credit to the alle- 
gations of the record of a court held at 
Hampton in Maj^, 1676, which was as fol- 
lows : " The town of Exeter being pre- 
sented for letting their meeting house 
lie open and common for cattle to go 
into, this Court doth order that the se- 
lectmen of Exeter do take effectual care 
that the said house be cleaned, t'nd be 
made clean enough for christians to meet 
in, and the doors hung and kept shut ; 
and this to be done and signified to Mr. 
Dalton, under the band of the constable 
by the next Sabbath day, corns se'ennightj 
or else to forfeit £5 ; that for the time to 
come they should keep the said house 
commodiously tight and suitable for 
such a place, upon the like penalty." 

Mr. Dudley died in 1883 at the age of 
seventy-seven years, the last thirty-five 
of which he passed in Exeter ; and was 
buried, it is believed, in the old grave- 
yard near the present gas-works. He 
was connected l>j blood and marriage 
with r.orne of the principal men of Mas- 
sachusetts, and the people of Exeter 
were fortunate, in every respect, in hav- 
ing him to settis among them. He was 
able to allay oil J2r:,loQS fselings on the 
part of McssachassttP. towards Exeter, 
by his acquaintance with the dignitaries 



/ 



54 

of that colony, and he was unqnestion- 
ably a diligent and faithful spiritual 
teacher and guide. 

For some years alter Mr, Dudley's de- 
cease, there was no settled or regular 
minister in Exeter ; but it is probable 
that religious worship was conducted by 
such clergymen as might be temporarily 
engaged. In 1683 Kev. John Cotton, be- 
fore and afterwards of Hampton, is men- 
tioned in a contemporary account as of 
Exeter, so it is probable that he minis- 
tered here for a time. Elder William 
Wcntworth certainly oflTiciated here be- 
fore October, 1690, as the town then voted 
to treat with him " for his cmitiiiuance 
with them in the ministry." Mr. Went- 
wortli remained in the office of minister 
in Exeter until some time in 1(393, when 
the growing infirmities of years must 
have disqualified him for the work. 

The course adopted by the town in se- 
lecting his successor, strikingly illus- 
trates the simple foshions of the time, 
and the general concern felt throughout 
the community in relation to the spirit- 
ual concerns of even a remote and feeble 
settlement. On the 23d of June, 1693, 
Capt. John Oilman and Bilej"^ Dudley 
were chosen "in behalf of the town to go 
to the neighboring ministers and take 
their advice for a meet person to supply 
the office of the ministry in the town of 
Exeter.'" The search seems to have been 
successful, for only three months after- 
ward a committee was raised to treat 
with Rev. John Clark, and on the 10th 
of October, in the same year, Capt. John 
Oilman, Capt. Peter Coffin and Cajjt. 
Robert Wadleigh were empowered to 
agree with Mr. Clark to become the min- 



56 

i«ter of Exeter, and to fix his salary for 
the first half year, the town engaging to 
pay the same. 

But Mr. Clark was not to be secured at 
once. It is not known why he did not re- 
move sooner to Exeter, but it may be con- 
jectured that he required, not unreason- 
ably, that the inhabitants should fii"st 
prove their disposition and ability to sus- 
tain a religious society, by erecting a 
suitable house of worship. However 
that might have been, in January, 1695, 
at two meetings of the town, the subject 
of building a new meeting-house was dis- 
cussed, and at length determined ; and 
** the major part of the town saw cause to 
«rect and set the house on the hill be- 
tween the great Ibrt and Nat Folsom's 
barn." But the location of a public 
building is never an easy matter for a 
town to agree upon, and a controversy 
afterwards arose in regard to it, which 
was only settled at last by a committee 
chosen for the purpose. Capt. Coffin was 
employed to keep the account of the 
work done by the inhabitants upon the 
house ; and the rate allowed was three 
shillings a day for men, and for lads 
what the committee should order. 

The location decided upon was just in 
front of the site of the present lower 
(First Congregational) church, and there 
the meeting-house, evidently of no mean 
proportions, was placed, being complet- 
ed about the beginning of the year 1697. 
It had doors at the east and west ends, 
the pulpit on the north side, and stairs 
leading to a women's gallery on the south 
side. Pews were built round the sides, 
and the middle space was probably occu- 
pied with benches. 



56 

At a town meeting, on the Sd of Feb- 
ruary, 1697, it was voted " that the new 
meetiug-house should be seated by the 
committee now chosen, viz., Capt. Moore, 
Mr. Smart, Biiey Dudley, Capt. Hall, 
Lieut. L.eavitt and Mr. Moses Leav- 
itt ; and the committee have full pow- 
er to seat ths people in their places 
and power to grant places for pews 
to whom they see meet; and those 
men that have places for pews shall sit 
in them with their families, and not be 
seated no where else." On the same day 
the committee assigned places for pews, 
as follows : to Kinsley Hall, hif. wife and 
five children, at the West door ; to Moses 
Leavitt and family at the left hand of 
Hall ; to Edward Hilton for wife and son 
Winthrop, his wife and two daughters, 
Mary and Sobriety, on the North side of 
the mGeling-bouse, joining to the pulpit 
and Moses Leavitt's pew; to Richard 
Hilton for himself, wife, children, mo- 
ther and sister Rebecca, on the North 
side of the meeting-house joining to the 
parsonage pew ; to Mr. Wilson, his wife 
and son Thomas, and two daughters, 
Martha and Mary, and Elizabeth Oilman 
joining unto Richard Hilton's, on the 
East side cf the meeting house ; to Nich- 
olas Oilman and wife, and John and Else 
and Catherine, at the East door; to Rob- 
ert Wadleigh and v.-ife and son Jona- 
than, a place at the South side joining to 
the women's stairs; and to Elizabeth 
Coffin, widow of Robert Coffin, and chil- 
dren, Simon Wiggin and family, next to 
Jeremiah Oilman's. 

It Is probable that Mr. Clark preached 
for a time in Exeter before his ordina- 
tion, which was fixed to be on the 2lst of 



57 

September, 1698. The 7th of September 
was ordered to be observed as a day of 
humiliation. On the Sunday preceding 
the ordination a confession of faith and 
covenant, which had been previously 
agreed upon, were signed by the follow- 
ing named persons, who were the first 
members of the first church in Exeter, 
the organization of which has ever since 
been maintained : 



Jolm Clark, pastor, 
John Gilman, 
Peter Coffin, 
WilUani Moore, 
Thomas Wlggiu, 
Kinsley Hall, 
Theophilus Dudley, 
S.amuel Leavitt, 
BUey Dudley, 
Moses Leavitt, 
John Folsom, 
Henry AVadleigh, 
Jonathan Robinson, 



Tliomas Dudley, 
John Serivener, 
Xiclicilas ( Jilniau, 
Riclianl (ilidilen, 
Eli/.alictli (lilman, 
Eli/.alictU Clark. 
Judith Wilson, 
Margarc/t Heal. 
Sarali Dudley, 
DelKirali Siukler, y 
Deborah Coffin. 
Sarah Lowell, 
Mehitabel Smith. 



The church having been organized, on 
the day appointed the ordination exer- 
cises were performed by Rev, Mr. Hale, 
who preached the sermon, Rev. Mr. 
Pike, who made the prayer before impo- 
sition of hands. Rev. Mr. Woodbrid^e, 
who gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Cot- 
ton, who gave the right hand of fellow- 
ship. 

Mr. Clark received at first sixty pounds 
a year for his salary, with the use of the 
parsonage lot and a certain meadow ; to 
which ten pounds more were afterwards 
added, to cover the expense of firewood 
and fencing of the lands. It was also 
agreed that the town should furnish him 
a parsonage house, but he subsequently 
consented to dispense with that stipula- 
tion, on condition that the town should 
pay him one hundred pounds, instead 
thereof. 

Mr. Clark remained in charge of the 
church in Exeter until his death, in 1705, 



58 

at the age of tliirty-five years. He was 
highly esteemed In- his people; they paid 
to his widow tlie lull amount of his sal- 
ary, and erected a tomb over his remains, 
at the expense ot the town ; and twenty 
years later, made repairs upon the same. 
The grave of Mr. Clark is in the yard of 
the lower church, and upon his tomb- 
stone were inscribed these lines : 

"A proplii-f lies uiuicr tlic stoni'. 
His words sli;ill live lliii" hf be frolic, 
Whrii iniaclicrs ilic wliat iiilo the pulpit gave 
(Jt liviiifj, arc still preached IVoiu their grave. 
The faitli and life which your dead pastor tauglit 
>»ow in one grave with liim, sirs, bury not." 

A few days after the decease of Mr. 
Clark the town voted to ob.sfcrve the last 
Wednesday of August as a day of humil- 
iation, and appointed a committee " to 
take care of the ministers" who should 
preach in Exeter before that day, and 
lake advice of them or any other persons 
they might think proper, respecting a 
suitable minister to be settled here. 
Early in September acoinmittee, consist, 
•ing of Tiieut. Nicholas (iilman and Jona- 
than Thing, was appointed to give some 
minister a call, and engage him for the 
term of three months ; and were instruct- 
ed to invite Mr. Adams, Mr. White or 
Mr. Curin(?), for that duty. 

It is probable that a temporary engage- 
ment was not found satisfactory ; for two 
months afterward, a vote was passed to 
call a minister in order to a full settle- 
ment, should the town and said minister 
agree. In the April following (ITOti) the 
town voted to give Rev. .John Odlin a 
(!all to carry on the work of the ministry 
and appointed a committee of ten per- 
sons, a major part of whom were em- 
powt red to make a full agreement in be- 
half of the town with him "for his salarv 



59 

and other things laeedful." Under this 
authority they contracted to pay him £70 
a year, together with the strangers' con- 
tribution money, and allow him the use 
of the parsonage and two hundred acres 
of land, and to give him an outtit of £100 
in money towards his settlement. 

Mr. Odlin was ordained on tlie 12th ol 
November, 1706. He was a young man, 
having graduated at Harvard College 
only four j^ears before. He married Mrs. 
Clark, the widow of his predecessor, and 
his pastorate only ended with his life. 

Ere many years had passed, the want 
of a new place of worship began to be 
felt. The town had increased in popula- 
tion, and the Indian wars had for the 
time ceased to alarm and keep down the 
frontier settlements. When men ven- 
tured to go to church without arms in 
their hands, the tide of immigration be- 
gan to resume its natural How. On the 
16th of December, 1728, it was determin- 
ed that a new meeting house should be 
built, and placed on some part of the 
land purchased of Capt. Peter Coffin, on 
which the meeting house then stood. 

But so important an undertaking re- 
quired time, and it was not until the 
spring of 1731 that the new building was 
finished. It was placed close by the old 
meeting-house, which was not removed 
until after its completion. In March and 
April, 1731, the pews were sold as follows : 

No. 14 to Maj. Nicholas ( liliiian, Esq., lor £21 

■24 Capt. Tlii-()|iliiliis Smith, Hi 

1.5 Lieut. BaitlKiloriHW Thing. 21 

20 Dr. Thoiiias Dean. 1.5 

ao Capt. Klijihalct < 'otHu, 18 10s 

W " PvU'V (iihnaii, 13 10 

yi Dca. Thdiiias Wilson. l:i 

13 .loiiatlKin (iilnian, 2:5 

10 Natlumicl Wfli^tci-, II 

21 Frauds Bowilen, 12 
12 Samuel Couner, • 20 



60 



»i 


Edward Ladd. 


IT 


22 


Capt. Jonathan Wadleigh, 


15 


25 


James Leavitt, 


16 


23 


Lieut. Jolin K()l)ins()u, 


20 


5 


Bcniaiiiin Tiling', 


12 10 


4 


Natiiaiiicl l!ai-11etf. 


16 10 


!) 


Saniiicl ( iilinau. 


13 


18 


DaiiirlCiiliiKiIi, 


13 r> 


6 


Dca. .lolin Lord, 


12 15 


16 


Natlianirl Gilmau, 


17 


8 


Mrs. HaniialiHall, 


13 5 


3 


K/.ckiil (iiliiian. 


20 


29 


Caleb Ciliiian, 


17 


27 


Tlioiiias Weljsier. 


17 


31 


<'al)t. .Iiilni (iihiian. Jr. 


21 


28 


Jereiniali Connor. 


20 10 


7 


Col. John (lilniau. 


16 5 


•J 


Jonathan ( 'onnor. 


21 15 


1 


.Mr. John Odlin, 


15 


17 


Col. John Giliuau, 


12 13 



And in the "lower gallery" the fol- 
lowing sale.s were made : 

No. 9 to Col. JolinGiluian, £10 

1 Nieholas (Jordon, 12 5s- 
5 Bartholomew Thing, 10 5 
i; Jeremiah ( 'onnor, 10 5 

7 Kieharil Smith, 13 

8 Daniel Thin};, U 
4 Philip Connor, 11 

10 Joseph ThinK, 10 

3 Nathaniel Web.ster,^ 12 

2 William Doren, 12 

This, which was the fourth house of 
worship erected in Exeter, was a large 
structure, with two galleries, and a broad 
aisle running up to the pulpit, on each 
side of which were benches for those who 
did not own pews, and who agreeabl.y to 
the fashion of the time had seats assign- 
ed them according to age. A high steeple 
was added to the edifice soon afterwards^ 
at the charge of some public spirited cit- 
izens, who presented it to the town, and 
a bell was purchased and hung, to make 
all complete. The steeple stood till 1775, 
when it was blown down in a heavy gale, 
and rebuilt at the expense of the town ; 
the building lasted till 1798, when it was 
replaced by the present edifice, which is 
still standing on the same spot. 

In November, 1731, the town voted to 
take down the old meeting-house at 
once, and with the materials to build a 



61 

court house; -which was located on the 
opposite side of the street, just below 
where the Squainscoit House now is. 

Mr. Odliii ministered to the people of 
his charge to their acceptance for more 
than tiiirty 3'e. rs, and until the time of 
the *' great awakening" under the influ- 
ence of Whitefield. Mr. Odlin set his 
face conscientiously against the " new 
lights," and though a majority of his pa- 
rishioners agreed with him, a considera- 
ble minority were of a different opinion, 
and zealously supported the views of 
Whitefield, In 1743 the major part of 
the people joined in a request to Rev. 
Woodbridge Odlin, son of Rev. John Od- 
lin, to settle over tliem as the colleague 
of his father. As it was known that the 
sentiments of both were in harmony, 
the partisans of the Whitefield doctrines 
voted against the younger Mr. Odlin, 
and being outnumbered, withdrew, to 
the number of fort3''-one persons, and on 
the 7th of June, 1744, were organized in- 
to the Second Church. 

Mr. W. Odlin was ordained on the 28th 
of September, 1743, his father preaching 
the sermon on the occasion. He is rep- 
resented as having been a man of genu- 
ine piety, and of modest and unaffected- 
ly simple manners. He succeeded in 
keeping his church and people well unit- 
ed, though in the time of the troubles be- 
tween the colonies and Great Britain, 
he took an early and decided stand in 
favor of the former. He died in 1776, 
and his parish voted a gift of 25£ to his 
widow. 

In Julj', 1770, a call was given to Rev. 
Isaac Mansfield, who was then serving 
as a chaplain in the Continental army, 



64 

His successor was Rev. William D. 
Hitchcock, who was installed October o,_ 
1833. His ministry commenced with 
most auspicious pr. spects, which were 
terminated in a single year by his la- 
mented death, November 23, 1851. 

It was not until Juno 19, 1856, that 
Rev. Nathaniel Lasell, the next succeed- 
ing minister, was installed. After a 
service of three jears he asked for his 
dismission, which was granted June 12, 
1859. Ho was subsequently employed 
in the profession of teaching. 

Rev. 1-lias Nason, a native of New- 
buryport, and a graduate of Brown [Jni- 
versity was installed November 22, 1860, 
and was dismissed at his own desire, 
May 30, 1865. He has since lived in Bil- 
lerica, Mass., and is well known for bis 
antiquarian tastes and writings. 

Rev. John O. Barrows, who was in- 
stalled December 5, 1866, received his 
dismission October 6, 1869, which he had 
requested that he might enter upon for- 
eign-mis:jion service in Asia. 

Rev. Swift Byington, the present min- 
ister of this society, was installed June 2, 
1871. He is the sixteenth in order, of 
those who have been settled as spiritual 
guides, over the First Church in Eieter. 



XII. 

THE NEW PARISH. 

The members of the original parish 
who seceded from it in 1743, and united 
to form a new society, proceeded in tho 
same or the following year, to build a 
house of worship. It was situated on the 
lot where Mrs. W. V. Cohbs' house now 
stands, and was a building of two stories 



<i5 

and respe(5tabie capjxfity. Itstood parallel 
with the street, and on the Western end 
was a goodly stcej)lo, surmounted with a 
vane. The pulpit was on the side oppo- 
site the front door, and a gallery ran 
round the other three sides. It was this 
nieoting-houso in which Whitefield es- 
sayed to preach on the day before his 
death, wheji it was found all too small to 
contain his thronging auditors, and lie 
was compelled to address thorn in the 
open air, on the opposite side of the way. 
The fiecedors naturally wished to be 
exonerated from jiaying taxes for the 
support of the old parish, when they 
ceased to worship there ; but the law of 
that day was against them, and though 
the town was repeatedly urged to relievo 
them from the burden, the majority 
would never consent to do so. A petition 
to the General Assembl3' of the province 
for setting olf a new parish, was op- 
posed by the town, and failed. But the 
society struggled on, nnd in 1746 made an 
unsuccessful attempt to procure Rev. 
Samuel Buel to become their minister ; 
and in 1747 invited Mr. John Phillips, 
one of their own number, and afterwards 
the founder of the Phillips Academy, to 
act as their pastor, but he declined on the 
ground of his inability to perform all the 
duties of the clerical ofTice. Thereupon 
they extended a call to Rev. Daniel Rog- 
ers, who accepted it, and was settled ov- 
er them, August 31, 1747. He was a son 
of Rev. John Rogers of Ipswich, Mass., 
and a graduate of Harvard College, where 
ho had also passed some years as a tutor. 
It has been supposed that his family was 
directly descended from John Rogers, the 
Smithfield martyr, but later researches 



66 



show that this is problematical, at least. 
A second application made to the Gen- 
eral Assembly, in 1755, for the incorpor- 
ation of a new parish was successful ; 
and the folio wing named persons were the 
same year assessed as members thereof: 

Jonathan Ambrose, 
J()se])li AkiTS, 
jDslah Harker, 
Jiilni i;(i«ilcu, 
Kihv.-inl ('(ilcord, 
■\\aillv ( ram, 
TlKJinas Ocan, 
John l>caii, 
Samuel Dolloi; 
Abner Uollof, 
Joseph DoUof, 
Nathaniel Folsom. 
Jei-emiah Kulsoni, 
I'cter (iihuaji, 
S.-iiiuiel (ohnan, 
Daniel (lilmaii, 
Jiilui (liliiian, Jr., 
Mary (.iliuan, 
Nehemiali (lilnian, 
Josiali Gilnian, 
Samuel (iilinaii, Jr., 
Trueworthy Gilmaii, 
Summersliu Oilman, 
Daniel (iilman, 3(i, 
Mcholas (iilman, 
.loim Jlains, 
AVilliani Harris, 
Dmlley James, 
Jonathan Jiuikins, 
John Loi'iJ, 
John Loo^e, Jr., 

Tlie same year a mutual council was 
agreed upon by both churches, for the 
purpose of attempting a reconciliation of 
the differences which existed between 
them ; but without avail. Each societj' 
chose to pursue its own course. 

Rev. Mr. Rogers remained the minis- 
ter of the new parish until his death, 
December 19, 17S5. For thirty-seven 
years he labored with piety and zeal for 
the good of his people, and in his decease 
it was said "they sustained tlie loss of a 
faithful minister, and his children that 
of a kind and tender fatlier.'J His pa- 
rishioners, in token of their respect for 
his memory, voted to bear the expense 
of his funeral. 



Nathaniel Ladd, 
Joslali l^add, i 
Klias Ladd. 
Thomas hord, 
Kohert Lij<ht, 
John Leavilt, 
.lonathan Lord, 
Kdmunil Looge, 
Joseph Mudtrett, 
Thomas Nealey, 
John Phillips, 
Thomas Piiier, 
Stephen T'almer, 
John );(.liinson, 
Peter Holiinson, 
lienjainin Kopers. 
The(jphilns Smith, 
Uiehard Smith, 
Nieliolas Smith, 
Kicharii Smith, Jr., 
.(cisepli Swazey, 
Samnel Smith, 
Joseph Stacy, 
Joseph Smith, 
IJi-njamin Thing, 
Da\ivl Tiling, 
Stephen Thing, 
.lames Thnrstin, 
Abner Thurstin, 
Jonathan Young. 



67 



After the death of Mr. Rogers, the new- 
parish was without a settled minister for 
nearly seven years. In 1787 and the two 
subsequent years, this parish united with 
the other in defraying the expenses of 
supporting the ministry. It may inter- 
est some readers to know who bore 
the charges of religious worship in Exe- 
ter, almost a hvindred years ago, and we 
therefore transcribe from an ofRcial pa- 
per the following list of those "who con- 
tributed for the support of a minister for 
the year 1788 ;" nineteen of the persons 
therein mentioned belonging to the new, 
•md the remainder to the old parish, 

Jeremiah Leavitt, 
Tosepli Swazey, 



John Phillips, 
Nathaniel Folsoni, 
Samuel Kolsoni, 
-ttiUeon Lamsiyu, 
KatlKiiiicl Gil'mau, 
Ju^(•pll Tiltcin, 
Eliplialet Hale, 
Eljluaim Robinson, 
Tiueworthy Oilman, 
Beniamin Boardman, 
Oliver I'ealiodv, 
SaiinKl Ilcibart, 
Diulley (Hllin, 
Beujainiu Smith, 
Jo^iali Unliiiison, 
James Leavitt, 
William Hale, 
Aliraham Sanborn, 
Josiah Barker, 
Joseph Cram, 
James Hackett, 
Samuel Oilman, 
Thomas Dean, 
John Dean, 
Ward C. Dean, 
Isaac Williams, 
Nal haniel Oordoii, 
James Oilman, 
James Thurston, 

It was greatly hoped at that time, when 
both societies were without ministers, 
that a permanent re-union could be ef- 
fected between them ; but though a 
more cordial understanding was estab- 
lished than had before existed, they still 
retained their distinct organizations. 

In 1790, the second parish voted to invite 
Rev. Samuel Austin of New Haven, who 



James Burley 
Benjamin Cornier, 
Isaac Currier. 
Jacob Pearson, 
Simeon Ladd, 
Samuel Chamberlain, 
Juhn TlHiiii]ison, 
Mc.ses Jcwrtt, 
Edmund Pearson, 
Eliphalet Oilman, 
Samuel Dutch, 
Josiah Folsom, 
Xathaniel Oiddings, — 
Daniel Jones, 
Josiah Oilman, Jr., 
David Boardman, 
George Odiorne, 
Francis Mason, 
Joseph Lamson, 
James Folsom, 
Nathaniel Parker, 
Daniel Tilton, 
Benjamin C. Oilman, 
J. Oilman, Jr., 
"Wood bridge Odlin, 
Samuel Brooks. 



had repeatedly olficiatod in their pulpit, 
to settle with them, but he did notaccept. 
Not long after, however, they were so 
fortunate as to secure for their minister 
Rov. Joseph BroAvn, who was installed 
over them November 20, 1792. lie was 
a native of Chester, in England, and ed- 
ucated at Lady Huntington's Seminary. 
He remained in Exeter but five years, 
being dismissed at his own request, in 
1707, but his ministrations appear to have 
been quite successful. The parish voted 
liim a present of gfiO, at his departure. 

The new society, being now without a 
pastor, gradually declined in numliersand 
interest, ahd several of the more influen- 
tial members of the church sought the 
communion of their brethren of the 
other parish. The society organization, 
Jjowever, was kept up, and religious ser- 
vices were held with more or less fre- 
quency. At length, about 1813, several 
of the former members having returned, 
a now impulse appeared to be given to 
the society, and stated worship vvas re- 
sumed with regularity. Rev. Hosea Hil- 
dreth, a residentof the town and a teach- 
er in tlie Academy, was omploj'ed to sup- 
ply the pulpit, which he did till Rev. 
Isaac Hurd began his ministrations. 

Mr. Ilurd was installed as the pastor, 
September 11, 1817. He was born in 
Charlestown, Mass., received his theo- 
logical education in Edinburgh, and first 
preached in London. Upon his return 
to this country he was settled for a time 
in Lynn, Mass. When he came to Exeter 
he found but a small and feeble church, 
but under his faithful and judicious care 
it speedily increased in strength and 
numbers. In 1823, the society had bo- 



(59 

come of suflBcient size and ability to 
build a new meeting-house which is still 
standing in the south-eastern end of the 
Academy enclosure, and substantially 
unchanged, except that its length was in- 
creased by the addition of about fifteen 
feet, in the year 1863. 

After a harmonious and successful min- 
istry of nearly thirty years, Mr. Hurd 
proposed to the society to settle a col- 
league with him, generously relinquish- 
ing all claim for pecuniary compensation 
thereafter. The society, gratefully ac- 
knowledging his faithful and efficient la- 
bors, and assuring him of their unwav- 
ering afl'ection, assented to the proposal, 
and in pursuance thereof Rev. Samuel D. 
Dexter was ordained as colleague pastor, 
December 2, 1847. He was a native of 
Boston, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard 
College, and his personal and religious 
character were such as to give him a 
strong hold upon the people, but his la- 
bors were cut short by his death, April 
20, 1850, at the early age of twenty-four 
years. And six years later, October 4, 
1856, Rev. Isaac Hurd, D. D., at a good 
old age, beloved, respected and honored 
for his amiable character, his christian 
virtues and his faithful labors, passed 
from earth. 

Rev. Asa D. Mann was installed as 
colleague in the place of Mr. Dexter, No- 
vember 19, 1851. Mr. Mann was born in 
Randolph, Mass., was a graduate of Am- 
herst College, and had been settled in 
Hardwick, Mass., before he came to Ex- 
eter. After a little less than six years' 
service here, he was dismissed from his 
charge, July 8, 1857. 

He was succeeded by Rev. Orpheus T. 



70 

Lanphear, who was installed February 
2, 1858, and dismissed in February, 1864. 
Rev. John W. Chickering, Jr., was his 
successor, his installation taking place 
September 5, 1865, and his dismission 
July 18, 1870. Rev. Messrs. Mann and 
Lanphear are still engaged in the work of 
the ministry, and Rev. Mr. Chic-kcring 
is a professor in the Columbia Institution 
for the Deaf and Dumb at Washington. 

The eighth an d present pastor of tlie ne w 
society is Rev. George E. Street, who 
was installed March 30, 1871. 



XIII 

THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

A Baptist church was organized in 
Exeter October 17, 1800, consisting often 
members ; and a society was formed the 
next spring, by voluntary subscriiDtion. 
Meetings for religious worship were 
thenceforward held regularly on the 
Lord's day, though the limited number 
and means of the society enabled them at 
first to have preaching but a part of the 
time. Rev. Messrs. William Hooper, 
John Peak, Samuel Shepard and other 
well known ministers of their denomina- 
tion lent them occasional aid at this ear- 
ly period. They first used to meet at the 
house of Harvey Colcord ; afterwards at 
the Centre school house. In 1805 they 
built and dedicated their first meeting 
house, which was situated on Spring 
street. 

In 1806 Mr. Barnabas Bates preached 
for them during several months ; and in 
the spring of 1809 Rev. Ebenezer L. 
Boyd became their preacher and labored 



71 

with them for two years with encourag- 
ing results. In 1814 and the two succeed- 
ing years, Rev. Charles O. Kimball and 
Rev. James McGregors supplied their 
pulpit a part of the time. 

In the year 1817 a Sabbath school was 
first commenced in connection with the 
Society, which has ever since been con- 
tinued. The first teacher was the now 
venerable Dea. John F. Moses, who for 
half a century, with little interruption, 
held the position of superintendent. 

Their first settled minister was Rev. 
Ferdinand Ellis, who took the position 
in June, 1818, and occupied it until Sep- 
tember, 1828. In the autumn of the lat- 
ter year Rev. John Newton Brown was 
settled over the church, and so continued 
until February, 1833. Rev. John Cannan 
succeeded him, being ordained May 29, 

1833, and remained until February 16, 

1834. Rev. J. N. Brown was again invit- 
ed to the pastorate in 1834, which he fill- 
ed until he was dismissed in April, 1838. 
More than two years then elapsed before 
another minister was settled, during 
about one-half of which period the pulpit 
was regularly supplied by Rev. J. G. 
Naylor. 

In November, 1840, the church gave an 
invitation to Rev. Noah Hooper, Jr., to 
become their minister, which he accepted, 
and continued with them from Decem- 
ber 1 of that year until July 20, 1845. It 
was nearly three years after this, before 
a successor was settled, Mr. T. H. Archi- 
bald, licentiate, preaching about one year 
of the time. In the spring of 1848, Rev. 
Elijah J. Harris was settled as the pastor, 
and was dismissed from his charge April 
7, 1850. Rev. James French accepted the 



call of the church in January, 1851, and 
was settled over them until January 1, 
1853. After his dismission. Rev. Mr. 
Russell supplied the desk for a time. 
Rev. Franklin Merriam was the next 
settled minister, who was installed in 
September, 1854, and dismissed in No- 
vember, 1856. lie was succeeded by Rev. 
James J. Peck, whoso pastorate com- 
menced in February, 1857, and continued 
until April, 1861. 

On the first of July, 1861, Rev. Noah 
Hooper was solicited to assume the pas- 
toral charge for the second time, and ac- 
cepted the call. He continued his min- 
istrations until the autumn of 1871, when 
he was dismissed at his repeated request. 
Rev. Joseph N.Chase was next invited to 
become the pastor, and was received into 
that connection January 16, 1872, and still 
continues in it. The meeting house on 
Water street, in which the society now 
worship, was built in the years 1833 and 
1834. 

In December, 1854, some twenty-two 
members withdrew from the Water street 
church and formed themselves into a 
new society. They first held their meet- 
ings in a hall on Water street, until they 
built a meeting house, on Elm street, 
which was dedicated October 1, 1856. 
Up to about this time. Rev. J. B. Lane 
supplied them with preaching. Shortly 
after they removed to the new house, 
Rev. T. H. Archibald was settled over 
them as their minister. His pastorate 
continued not far from two years. For 
some time after his dismission, the pul- 
pit was supplied by students from the 
Newton Theological Institution, and af- 
terwards by Rev. Mr. May hew. About 



73 

1862, Rev. Charles Newhall was installed 
as the pastor, and continued in the office 
some eight years. In 1871 the two socie- 
ties resolved to re-unite, the Elm street 
organization was given up, and its mem- 
bers merged again into the Water street 
society. 



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